August 2017: The latest trips from Insight Guides

1. Sri Lanka

What? Yoga, meditation and relaxation 

Which trip? Luxury Yoga and Ayurveda: A Blissful Sri Lanka Retreat

Fly to Sri Lanka and travel to Kotugoda for the first of many delicious dinners to ease you into this relaxing yoga retreat. The next morning you will head to Ulpotha eco-village. Here you will spend days practising yoga and meditation under lea-thatched roof pavilion. Enjoy views over verdant tropical landscapes and a warm breeze flowing through. Choose to relax further with Ayurvedic treatments or be submerged in the vegetation on hikes and biking trips. You can also take a guided walk around Ulpotha to see temples, shrines and rice fields.

Move to Santani Yoga Retreat stopping in Kandy for a guided tour en-route. The days at Santani will be spent with morning to evening yoga, meditation and lifestyle classes. Lifestyle classes include learning to cook and nutrition courses. Finally, head to Tri Lanka where classes will be accompanied by an infinity pool. There is also a lake, where you can take refreshing dips. Tour Galle Fort, Sigiriya Rock, Dambulla and Anuradhapura to complete your Sri Lanka adventure.

Boat sailing near Perito Moreno glacier in Patagonia. Photo: Shutterstock

2. Argentina

What? Cultural city exploration and wilderness discovery

Which trip? South Argentina and the Ends of the Earth

Land in Buenos Aires to begin your city and wilderness adventure. Spend three days exploring the city. Begin with a guided tour that stops at all the major sites such as 9 de Julio Avenue and Plaza de Mayo. Stroll the narrow cobbled streets of the bohemian neighbourhood, La Boca. You'll also explore the grandiose, luxury neighbourhood, Recoleta.

Head south to El Calafate and to Los Glacier National Park. Enjoy a tour of waterfalls, forests and glaciers. Stand in awe of the Perito Moreno Glacier, see the cloud blue Argentino Lake and the rapid moving Brazo Rico River where you can see icebergs swiftly floating past. The final stop is Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego National Park. Trek through beech and evergreen forests to reach the coast at Lapataia Bay where you can take in the view of the Atlantic ocean dotted with mountainous islands.

French cafe in Paris. Photo: Shutterstock

3. France

What? Classic and romantic 

Which trip? Romantic Paris City Break 

For a romantic city break look no further than Paris – it may be obvious but it is a classic for a reason. Sleep in style at the luxury Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme. The hotel is just a few minutes' walk from the Jardin des Tuileries, the perfect place to wander on a warm afternoon.

During your stay there are a number of tours to choose from and numerous other sites to see. Cruise down the Seine to see the Left Bank from a different perspective and go to a food market to buy some local produce. Relax under the Eiffel Tower, soaking up some rays, stroll along the river edge to Notre Dame, gaze at the infamous Mona Lisa, travel to the outskirts and see the vast gardens at Versailles and spend an evening being dazzled at the Moulin Rouge. Finally, sit at a pavement table in a café, order a glass of wine and a local dish to enjoy as you watch people pass by.

Chinese Dunhuang desert. Photo: Shutterstock

4. China

What? Culture and history along the ancient trade route 

Which trip? Along the Silk Road

This adventure takes you along the silk road, from Beijing to Kashgar. From your base in Beijing, tour the city taking in all the major sites including the Forbidden City, The Great Wall and the Summer Palace. Next, transfer to Xian and begin your trip along the Silk Road.

Start at the Famen Temple, and observe the Terracotta Army, standing in varying battle formations. See the Yellow River (made so by the mud the river carries) and gaze at the statue of Mother Yellow River. Revisit the Great Wall at the western end, then venture into the Gobi Desert to Singing Hill, taking in the view over the vast sand dunes. Continue on to Crescent Springs, an oasis of deep blue water. Drive along the ancient trade route stopping at significant ruins, the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas, Grape Valley, Heavenly Lake and Kashgar City to see the Apak Hoja tombs. Spend a night enjoying traditional dancing and music to top off your Silk Road discovery.

Insight Guides covers numerous destinations worldwide so if the latest holidays outlined above don't fit your requirements, there's plenty more to choose from: browse available itineraries online now or talk to a local expert to plan your perfect holiday from scratch