Once in a lifetime

• 1 2012 - a bumper year for the Northern Lights
  The aurora borealis: named for Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, and Boreas, the Greek god of the north wind, the bringer of winter, even the name of this atmospheric phenomenon conjures magical...

• 2 Luxury ahoy! - the ultimate in superyachts
  The first of these magnificent yachts is called The Streets of Monaco, a luxury 155-metre vessel with capacity for 16 passengers and 70 crew. The name is completely accurate, as the design recreates the...

• 3 At home with the mountain gorillas
  The dense forests that carpet the volcanic Virunga mountains are one of the last refuges of the mountain gorilla. We invite you to an African adventure deep in this jungle, where American primatologist...

• 4 It all began in Nazareth
  From Nazareth where the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary with the very first “Ave Maria" – “Hail Mary, full of grace” – to Bethlehem where the baby was born; Ein Kerem...

• 5 Royal Madikwe: award-winning luxury with an eco-conscience
  Madikwe, the fourth largest game reserve in South Africa, is a joint venture between the state, the local community and the private sector and is a landmark in modern conservation and community development....

• 6 Cool and unusual Spanish hotels
  How do you fancy sleeping in a tree top? In a red stone fortress? Under the stars? In a converted cinema? Or in a traditional Bedouin haymah? These original hotels appeal to the deepest emotions, the sense...

• 7 Australia: the epic world Down Under
  In November 2008 People magazine chose Hugh Jackman as the sexiest man on the planet. We can't be sure whether they'd taken a peek at the trailer for Australia, which was to debut a month later, but if...

• 8 Loving Las Vegas
  To the unmistakable tones of Elvis Presley the camera pans over The Strip, that most famous of avenues that begins and ends in the desert. It's night and in the lights below a replica of the Eiffel tower...

• 9 Beijing's Forbidden City: the kingdom of 'The Last Emperor'
  The great Forbidden City of China lived up to its name for five and a half centuries. Originally the imperial residence where no one could enter or leave without the emperor's permission, from 1420 it...

• 10 Extreme Sailing comes to the Med
  Now in its fifth season, the Extreme Sailing Series is a unique concept: the vessels are Extreme 40 catamarans, all identical and capable of speeds over 70 kilometres an hour, and the eleven teams include...

• 11 Chobe National Park river safari
  Here, in the Chobe National Park, the heartbeat of Africa is strong. What could be more memorable than sailing the calm waters of the Chobe River, along the border between Botswana and Namibia, at dusk...

• 12 Treasure islands in the Andaman Sea
  Unlike Phang Nga Bay and the paradisiacal island of Phuket – the two best known and most popular tourist destinations in the Andaman Sea – these secret islands have managed to jealously guard...

• 13 Elephant polo – colossal fun in Thailand
  Elephant polo, the popular Thai sport whose international rules were established in the early Eighties, offers a unique experience for spectators from around the world. This year is a particularly good...

• 14 Five-star train-spotting!
  The Blue Train  Ranked among the very best hotels in the world, not only for the luxury and exclusivity of the accommodation and the quality of the service, but also for the chance to travel back...

• 15 Cool pools around the world
  Imagine an endless horizon as pool, sea and sky blend in a perfect shade of azure blue. Some of the best luxury hotels offer their perfect pools for your pleasure. Will you take the plunge? The Oberoi...

• 16 The Amalfi Coast – leave your map behind
  Cliffs, vineyards and lemon groves, mansions that look out to the sparkling sea across the hilltops, and heart-stopping views at each twist in the road that weaves its way along the Amalfi Coast: La Strada...

• 17 Luxury on the high seas
  When you hear the word 'cruise' perhaps you picture a kind of floating package tour aboard a vast and impersonal ship where thousands of passengers occupy identikit cabins in a kind of multi-storey floating...

• 18 Adrenaline rush in Pamplona
  Mention the Spanish town of Pamplona and the chances are someone will bring up the running of the bulls. Blame Ernest Hemingway, who featured the Basque festival in two novels The Sun Also Rises...

• 19 Float away on holiday
  Whether you fancy the bustle of a modern city getaway or the tranquillity of a tropical island, floating hotels are a way to make sure you get 24 hours enjoyment from every day you spend away. Have a look...

• 20 Michelle Obama enjoys family time in Africa
  Sprawling for a vast area of 75,000 hectares, Madikwe Game Reserve encompasses rocky peaks, open grasslands and verdant valleys, each habitat home to its own particular range of wildlife. And within the...