Kamchatka, Russia
Will Bolsover, founder of Natural World Safaris
“Kamchatka is a remote bastion, a destination where creature comforts are left behind. The landscapes are mind-blowing. Because it’s so raw and unpredictable, it’s only for the intrepid. But once you’re there the sights are incredible. This land is home to geysers and ice sheets, as well as bears, wolves and whales. My first sight was a volcanic peak peering above clouds as we came in to land. We had the wilderness all to ourselves, perched on the lake’s shore with no one in sight. It was Kamchatka at its best.”
Natural World Safaris (naturalworldsafaris.com) offers a Kamchatka safari from £5,885
Song Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan
Jonny Bealby, founder of Wild Frontiers
“I first arrived at this glacial lake two decades ago, following an ancient trail taken by Silk Road travellers. Whenever I return I walk up the lush green hills and look down on a world that hasn’t changed much over the years. Horses graze the pastures and eagles soar above, with stars lighting up the heavens at night. Knowing so many travellers passed this way adds to the magic. I’d return every year if I could.”
Wild Frontiers (wildfrontierstravel.com) offers trips to Kyrgyzstan from £1,590
Bayuda Desert, North Sudan
Will Jones, founder of Journeys by Design
“One of my favourites was a journey that I shared with Stanley Stewart through the deserts of north Sudan. It was not an obvious choice of destination, with very average, spartan accommodation. However, the experience was a simple, old-fashioned narrative of adventures and struggles, with the heroes sitting around a fire in the heart of the Bayuda desert roaring loudly at each other’s jokes into the dark night around us. We travelled slowly across the Bayuda desert on foot and by camel from the western Nubian kingdom towards the ancient city of Meroe, against the flow of the Nile, ending with a couple of nights in the dunes of the ancient city. It was a simple, traditional and trimmed-back journey across the deserts and sands of the Bedouin. We slept in simple tents for the most part. However, these experiences were the most memorable because we were forced to focus on the stars, the wind, the sand and the enormous good luck of close personal relationships and happiness shared on a journey together.”
Journeys by Design (journeysbydesign.com) offers a desert adventure from £5,100
Westfjords, Iceland
Tom Marchant, co-founder of Black Tomato
“A recent trip to Iceland took me far off the usual tourist trail when we explored an area known as the Westfjords. One of Iceland’s best-kept secrets, the region is isolated and uninhabited, so we helicoptered in from Reykjavik. For the next few days we snowmobiled, kayaked and hiked our way around, experiencing dramatic landscapes and spotting Arctic foxes and humpback whales. We stayed in dome tents miles away from the nearest village. Then at night we’d set off in search of the northern lights, which we learnt to capture with the help of an expert photographer.”
Black Tomato (blacktomato.com) offers tailor-made Iceland adventures from £6,500
Kodiak Island, Alaska
Justin Wateridge, managing director of Steppes Travel
“Flying over Alaska’s emerald isle, the scenery was incredible — miles of wilderness and muted hues. Having landed on Karluk Lake, I sat and looked at the mountains. One had fissures resembling claw marks, another had slopes that begged to be climbed. It was all so still and quiet, until a bear stopped only 10ft away and began to eat a salmon. All we could hear was the crunch of bones, then she was gone. We flew back to our lodgings, delighting in an extraordinary day.” Steppes Travel (steppestravel.com) offers a journey to Alaska from £6,995