Viking Gyda launches in Portugal
This month, the Viking Gyda, built specifically to sail Portugal’s Douro River, will start sailing a 10-day Portugal’s River of Gold itinerary.
The Viking Gyda features elegant Scandinavian design and accommodates 106 guests in 53 staterooms.
She will join sister ships the Viking Helgrim, the Viking Hemming, the Viking Osfrid and the Viking Torgil, bringing the Viking Douro River fleet to five ships. vikingrivercruises.co.uk
Hyatt Place Whitehorse opens in Yukon
The Yukon’s capital city, Whitehorse, welcomes a new addition with the opening of Hyatt Place Whitehorse, the brand’s first property in Canada’s North and only the second purpose-built hotel to open in Whitehorse in more than 50 years.
The property was developed by the Northern Vision Development Limited Partnership (NVD), which is majority-owned by First Nations peoples.
Whitehorse is a paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, culture vultures, culinary aficionados and history buffs.
Known as the ‘Wilderness City’, Whitehorse is the hub of the Yukon where exciting outdoors meets great cuisine, live theatre, amazing wildlife, and the world-famous gold rush history. hyatt.com
Wilderness Magashi Peninsula opens
Akagera National Park will see Wilderness expand its offering with the upcoming launch of Wilderness Magashi Peninsula.
This exclusive luxury safari lodge, set on the private Wilderness concession, will initially welcome guests to its twin rooms from 26 September 2025.
Perched on the shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga, the 1,112 square kilometre national park boasts over 520 bird species and 80 mammal species, and recently welcomed 70 white rhinos from South Africa in a historic translocation.
The park offers the opportunity to witness the big five on game drives and boat safaris. Prices at the Wilderness Magashi Peninsula start from £2,451 per person, per night in standard and premium season. wildernessdestinations.com
G Adventures unveils 38 new trips for 18 to 30-somethings
G Adventures, is offering young travellers who crave freedom, cultural connection and community new ways to see the world, with the exciting addition of 38 new trips to its 18-to-Thirtysomethings travel style.
The launch includes brand new destinations for this travel style, including Panama, Patagonia, Central Asia and the first stand-alone trip in Belize – making these once hard-to-reach or costly destinations more accessible than ever for young travellers.
The expansion also includes itineraries in existing favourites, including India and Indonesia, offering fresh ways to visit these culturally-rich countries. These affordable, high-impact adventures are built for connection, and authentic experiences, without breaking the bank. gadventures.com
Sabi Sabi Collection expands into Cape Town
The Sabi Sabi Collection, South Africa’s family-owned safari brand, is to debut in Cape Town with the opening of The Claremont Boutique Hotel this month. This boutique property marks Sabi Sabi’s first expansion beyond its lodges in the Greater Kruger.
Located beneath the iconic Table Mountain and a short distance from the city, The Claremont is a 1920s manor house that has undergone a sensitive transformation that preserves its heritage while brining contemporary South African decor by Dakota Design.
Fifteen individually styled rooms are positioned across the manor house and landscaped gardens.
Guests can choose between Deluxe and Classic Rooms, or the Sauer Suite with its private pool and separate entrance. Shared spaces include the safari lounge, bar, garden conservatory, Veld & Vine Bistro, and spa. sabisabi.com
The B.B. King 100th Anniversary celebrations taking place in Mississippi:
The B.B. King Museum & Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola is gearing up for Mr. King’s 100th birthday celebrations throughout the month of September.
As part of the B.B. King 100th Centennial Birthday Celebration weekend, Visit Mississippi will unveil a Mississippi Blues Trail marker for the museum on 5th September.
In addition, the historic Club Ebony will unveil new B.B. King Hologram experience on 13th September.
The most up-to-date event listings can be found at this link: bbkingmuseum.org/event.
Native Eye adds Lesotho to portfolio
Native Eye has unveiled a new expedition to the twin sovereign states of Lesotho and Eswatini, Africa’s smallest and most under-the-radar kingdoms, just as Lesotho celebrates its 70th anniversary of independence in 2026.
The 10-day route crosses mountain passes and verdant valleys, calling in at ancient citadels and game reserves.
Guests will learn about Basotho heritage, hike in the Lesotho Highlands, visit the Leribe craft market where local women weave mohair on ancient looms, and venture into the Mkhaya Game Reserve, one of the best places to see black rhinos in the wild.
Price: from £2,999pp based on 2 sharing, including 9 nights’ B&B accommodation, several lunches, entrance fees, services of an English-speaking guide and all transfers. Departs 9 July 2026 and 15 July 2027. nativeeyetravel.com
Reopening of private house on Mozambique beachfront
Pambele, a private beachfront house on the coastline of Mozambique’s San Sebastian Peninsula, is relaunching as an exclusive barefoot-luxury destination in the Bazaruto Archipelago within the Vilanculos Coastal Wildlife Sanctuary.
Owned by the same conservation-minded family behind Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve, Pambele combines the privacy of a fully staffed coastal home within Mozambique’s pristine and unspoiled coastline.
The newly relaunched Pambele offers exclusive-use stays, welcoming up to ten guests across five sea-facing en-suite villas. The open-plan living spaces, private sunbathing decks, and spacious outdoor area blends with the natural surroundings to create a seamless indoor-outdoor experience, all with uninterrupted ocean views and direct beach access. pambele.co.mz
KE announces new Georgia itinerary
KE Adventure has launched a series of new adventures for 2026, including a new climbing trip to Mount Kazbek (5054m), a dormant volcano that rises above the valleys of Georgia’s Kazbegi region, straddling the border of Georgia and Russia.
As the third highest mountain in Georgia, it is one of the more accessible climbs over 5000m with glacier crossings and steep slopes.
Supported by a mountain team and with careful acclimatisation, the ascent of Mount Kazbek lasts 10 days, leaving 3 July, 31 July and 4 September 2026.
Price from £5,995. Includes a tour leader, professional IFMGA climbing guides (1:3 ratio) for the ascent, single timed Tbilisi Airport transfers at the beginning and end of the trip, accommodation, all land transport, baggage transfer by horses on days 4 and 9, entrance fees to tourist sites which are part of the itinerary, meals as detailed in the itinerary. keadventure.com
Celebrate the new Jersey Tidal Trail on a Ramble Worldwide Walking Holiday
Adventure walking experts Ramble Worldwide have launched a guided or self-guided ‘Jersey Tidal Trail’ holiday itinerary in celebration of the launch of Visit Jersey’s new Jersey Tidal Trail, a 48-mile walking route that circumnavigates the Channel Island’s entire coastline
Deemed the Channel Islands’ answer to England’s South West Coast Path and Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way, the Jersey Tidal Trail showcases the very best of Jersey.
This includes windswept clifftops, long golden beaches and hidden coves, and cultural heritage with ancient remains and monuments offering points of interest along the trail.
Each stretch of the coast has been curated into five manageable sections. Ramble Worldwide’s six-night guided Jersey Tidal Trail starts from £1,149/person including return flights from Southampton, Gatwick or Liverpool, airport transfers, half board accommodation, all local transport and the services of a Classic Tour Leader.; the self-guided tour starts from £799/person. rambleworldwide.co.uk
Snowmass Balloon Festival celebrates 50 years of the the sky-high spectacle
On 12 September, the Snowmass Balloon Festival will mark its 50th anniversary, transforming the skies over the Rocky Mountains with a display of over 30 colourful hot air balloons.
As one of the highest-altitude ballooning events in the country, this milestone year promises a weekend of dawn ascensions, competitions and the famous Night Glow, where balloons illuminate the night.
Spectators can enjoy prime viewing spots, family-friendly activities and local food, making it the perfect autumn getaway for adventure seekers, families and photography enthusiasts alike. gosnowmass.com
New Indigenous walking and culinary tours at The Forks
Turtle Tours, a new Indigenous-owned walking and culinary tour company in Winnipeg, is now open and offers an introduction to Indigenous culture, food, and stories at The Forks National Historic Site.
Their signature The Forks Walking Tour lasts about 45 minutes and explores the region’s treaty history, place-based teachings, and stories connected to the land, inviting participants to listen, reflect, and walk toward reconciliation.
Public tours are available on Thursdays through Saturdays, three times daily. Group tours are available upon request.
Founded by Ashley Smith, an Indigenous entrepreneur, educator, and storyteller, Turtle Tours creates opportunities to connect deeply with the land and its layered histories through lived, intergenerational knowledge. turtletours.ca
