{"id":4910,"date":"2021-02-09T15:59:10","date_gmt":"2021-02-09T14:59:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/?p=4910"},"modified":"2024-06-26T10:56:16","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T08:56:16","slug":"2019-travel-destinations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/en\/2019-travel-destinations\/","title":{"rendered":"A selection of unexpected destinations to explore in 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=\u201d1\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||false|false\u201d][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d max_width=\u201d900px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_2_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d header_3_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_3_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_3_font_size=\u201d26px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d40px||40px||true|\u201d]<\/p>\n

Why don\u2019t you start drawing up a list of your New Year\u2019s travel resolutions?<\/h2>\n
\n

What will 2019 hold for you? New horizons obviously, and surprising discoveries that can only be made when travelling. But before you can set off, you have to choose where to go! Here is a collection of our favourite trips and holiday destinations for 2019 to help you!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||||||||\u201d text_line_height=\u201d1.8em\u201d link_font=\u201d||||on||||\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_3_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_3_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_3_font_size=\u201d26px\u201d header_3_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d header_4_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_4_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_4_font_size=\u201d22px\u201d header_4_line_height=\u201d1.5em\u201d header_5_font=\u201d|700|||||||\u201d header_5_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_5_font_size=\u201d18px\u201d header_5_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d header_6_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_6_font_size=\u201d16px\u201d header_6_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d text_orientation=\u201djustified\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||40px||false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Micronesia<\/h3>\n

Dotted across a maritime area of 10 million km\u00b2, 2,000 small islands with a total land area of just 3,200 km\u00b2 make the\u00a0<\/span>aquatic region of\u00a0<\/span>Micronesia<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0one of the largest in the world, covering nearly a quarter of the inhabited area of the Pacific Ocean. Before heading off, you\u2019ll have to squint at a map to spot this group of small atolls and islands, located between Japan, Hawaii and Papua New Guinea. Forget about a change of scenery; Micronesia is a completely different world that bears little resemblance to our daily lives. On some of the outlying islands, you encounter more\u00a0<\/span>manta rays<\/strong>\u00a0than indigenous people. This idyllic Atlantis is split into four island states. From west to east, they are:\u00a0<\/span>Yap<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Chuuk<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Pohnpei<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kosrae<\/strong>\u00a0Incidentally, Pohnpei is home to a sunken city that dates back eight centuries, while Chuuk lagoon offers some of the best wreck diving in the world and Palau, famous for its World Heritage listed Rock Islands is a paradise both above and underwater.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d width_tablet=\u201d\u201d width_phone=\u201d\u201d width_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||5px||false|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d background_size=\u201dcontain\u201d][et_pb_image src=\u201dhttps:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Palau-Micronesia-2.jpg\u201d alt=\u201dPalau-Micronesia\u201d title_text=\u201dIsland\u201d align=\u201dcenter\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.9.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d hover_enabled=\u201d0\u2033 sticky_enabled=\u201d0\u2033][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.9.2\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||on||||||\u201d text_text_color=\u201d#767676\u2033 text_font_size=\u201d12px\u201d background_color=\u201drgba(0,0,0,0)\u201d custom_margin=\u201d|||50px||\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||40px||false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Palau, Micronesia<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d max_width=\u201d900px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||||||||\u201d text_line_height=\u201d1.8em\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_3_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_3_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_3_font_size=\u201d26px\u201d header_3_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d text_orientation=\u201djustified\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||40px||false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

New Zealand Sub-Antarctic Islands<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re in the \u201cantipodes\u201d then you\u2019re not just \u201ca long way away\u201d\u2026 You\u2019re also on one of the islands belonging to the archipelago of the same name! Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Antipodes Islands \u2013 just like the\u00a0<\/span>Snares<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Bounty Islands<\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Auckland Islands<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Campbell Island<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 are part of the\u00a0<\/span>Sub-Antarctic Islands<\/a>\u00a0nestled between New Zealand and\u00a0<\/span>Antarctica<\/a>. This southern group of islands has been uninhabited since 1995, when the weather station on Campbell Island was automated. So, under the bitter winds of the Southern latitudes, humanity takes a break, giving way to fauna and flora that are perfectly adapted to these harsh weather conditions. Sea lions, albatrosses and\u00a0<\/span>penguins<\/a>\u00a0govern these lands peacefully, watching over the exceptional biodiversity in the sea and sky.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d width_tablet=\u201d\u201d width_phone=\u201d\u201d width_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||5px||false|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d background_size=\u201dcontain\u201d][et_pb_image src=\u201dhttps:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/iles-subantarctiques-2.jpg\u201d alt=\u201diles-subantarctiques\u201d title_text=\u201da wild animal love the freedom of the nature\u201d align=\u201dcenter\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.9.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d hover_enabled=\u201d0\u2033 sticky_enabled=\u201d0\u2033][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||on||||||\u201d text_text_color=\u201d#767676\u2033 text_font_size=\u201d12px\u201d background_color=\u201drgba(0,0,0,0)\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||40px|49px|false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Penguin colony at Sandy Bay, Macquarie Island<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d max_width=\u201d900px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||||||||\u201d text_line_height=\u201d1.8em\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_3_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_3_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_3_font_size=\u201d26px\u201d header_3_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d text_orientation=\u201djustified\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||40px||false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Costa Rica<\/h3>\n

Set off to a country full of happy people!<\/span>Costa Rica<\/a>\u00a0has actually been named the most sustainably happy country in the world by the\u00a0<\/span>Happy Planet Index<\/em>. De quoi \u00e9clipser tous les autres pr\u00e9tendants au tr\u00f4ne du bonheur et du respect \u00e9cologique. Surprenant havre de douceur et de richesse environnementale, le\u00a0<\/span>Costa Rica<\/a>\u00a0seems to be a laboratory for what the\u00a0<\/span>society of the future<\/strong>\u00a0should look like: a community whose main concerns are the environment, respect for all living things and everyone\u2019s wellbeing. From its volcanic peaks and fabulous secluded beaches to its lush forests and magnificent bays, the sense of awareness and goodwill permeating the country is almost tangible. Its inhabitants \u2013 nicknamed the\u00a0<\/span>Ticos<\/strong>\u00a0\u2013 have embraced the notion of \u201ccoexistence\u201d and apply it every day.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d width_tablet=\u201d\u201d width_phone=\u201d\u201d width_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||5px||false|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d background_size=\u201dcontain\u201d][et_pb_image src=\u201dhttps:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Volcan-Arena-Costa-Rica.jpg\u201d alt=\u201dVolcan-Arena-Costa-Rica\u201d title_text=\u201dVolcan-Arena-Costa-Rica\u201d align=\u201dcenter\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||on||||||\u201d text_text_color=\u201d#767676\u2033 text_font_size=\u201d12px\u201d background_color=\u201drgba(0,0,0,0)\u201d custom_margin=\u201d|||50px||\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||40px||false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Arenal Volcano, Costa Rica<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d max_width=\u201d900px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||||||||\u201d text_line_height=\u201d1.8em\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_3_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_3_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_3_font_size=\u201d26px\u201d header_3_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d text_orientation=\u201djustified\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||40px||false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka<\/h3>\n

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, this country has left the dark days of war and a tsunami firmly in its wake. The\u00a0<\/span>Sri Lanka<\/strong>\u00a0of today is focused on beauty once again, and travellers today do well to heed the call. Sri Lanka has been welcoming the world into its midst for centuries, as a trading post for merchants and explorers. This tradition of openness and curiosity is what its inhabitants, who have so much to offer, still offer. Intoxicated by the scents of spices, travellers might think they are hallucinating when they cross paths with elephants. By following these animals, they will cross the emerald green\u00a0<\/span>paddy fields<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>tea plantations<\/strong>\u00a0until they reach ancient cities swallowed by the jungle, where monkeys watch over temples and Buddha statues and the relaxed pace of the tropical days will eventually cause travellers to lose themselves in this exotic paradise.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d width_tablet=\u201d\u201d width_phone=\u201d\u201d width_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||5px||false|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d background_size=\u201dcontain\u201d][et_pb_image src=\u201dhttps:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Tea-plantations-Sri-Lanka.jpg\u201d alt=\u201dTea-plantations-Sri-Lanka\u201d title_text=\u201della to kandy sri lanka famous train in the middle of nature\u201d align=\u201dcenter\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.9.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d hover_enabled=\u201d0\u2033 sticky_enabled=\u201d0\u2033][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||on||||||\u201d text_text_color=\u201d#767676\u2033 text_font_size=\u201d12px\u201d background_color=\u201drgba(0,0,0,0)\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||40px|51px|false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Train through the tea plantations, Sri Lanka<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||||||||\u201d text_line_height=\u201d1.8em\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_3_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_3_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_3_font_size=\u201d26px\u201d header_3_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d text_orientation=\u201djustified\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||40px||false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Fiji<\/h3>\n

If you want to escape for real, then\u00a0<\/span>Fiji<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is the place to go. Hidden behind its plural identity, 333 islands make up this archipelago which is one of the most eclectic in the world. Comprising small\u00a0<\/span>coral islands<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>volcanic mountains<\/strong>, diverse lands steeped in tradition emerge from its turquoise waters. Worthy of a postcard, the beaches compete for space with lush forests and deep mangrove swamps. Magnificent mountains stand tall on\u00a0<\/span>Viti Levu<\/strong>\u00a0and the other main islands, crying rivers and waterfalls into the plunging valleys and remote villages. The entire history of the South Pacific and of British presence there permeates this destination full of contrasts, from sugar cane plantations to Indian temples and from the essentially Melanesian origins of its inhabitants to the Indian ethnic groups that have since joined the islands.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d width_tablet=\u201d\u201d width_phone=\u201d\u201d width_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||5px||false|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d background_size=\u201dcontain\u201d][et_pb_image src=\u201dhttps:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Fidji-Middle-Tavoro-Waterfalls-2.jpg\u201d alt=\u201dFidji-Middle-Tavoro-Waterfalls\u201d title_text=\u201dMiddle Tavoro Waterfalls in Bouma National Heritage Park, Taveun\u201d align=\u201dcenter\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.9.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d hover_enabled=\u201d0\u2033 sticky_enabled=\u201d0\u2033][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||on||||||\u201d text_text_color=\u201d#767676\u2033 text_font_size=\u201d12px\u201d background_color=\u201drgba(0,0,0,0)\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||40px|51px|false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Tavoro Waterfalls on Taveuni Island, Fiji<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||||||||\u201d text_line_height=\u201d1.8em\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_3_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_3_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_3_font_size=\u201d26px\u201d header_3_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d text_orientation=\u201djustified\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||40px||false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Jordan<\/h3>\n

How about exploring\u00a0<\/span>Jordan<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 a country steeped in history \u2013 differently? On foot, for example! Inaugurated in 2017, the\u00a0<\/span>Jordan Trail<\/strong>\u00a0is a 650 km long hiking trail that an experienced hiker could complete in 42 days\u2026 But there\u2019s nothing stopping you from taking your time! Few people walk it in its entirety, instead hiking sections that take around 5 days to complete. From Um Qais in the north to Aqaba in the south, it retraces former trading routes, offering travellers the chance to experience\u00a0<\/span>the rich diversity of this magnificent country<\/strong>. Its deserts, valleys and, it goes without saying, its historical sites (Petra and Wadi Rum) reveal their grandeur to awestruck hikers, who will dream about them at night in one of the many Bedouin camps. On the way, hikers walk beside the Dead Sea, ending up on the shores of the Red Sea.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d width_tablet=\u201d\u201d width_phone=\u201d\u201d width_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||5px||false|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d background_size=\u201dcontain\u201d][et_pb_image src=\u201dhttps:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Petra-Jordanie-2-2.jpg\u201d alt=\u201dPetra-Jordanie\u201d title_text=\u201dAl Khazneh \u2013 the treasury, ancient city of Petra, Jordan\u201d align=\u201dcenter\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.9.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d hover_enabled=\u201d0\u2033 sticky_enabled=\u201d0\u2033][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||on||||||\u201d text_text_color=\u201d#767676\u2033 text_font_size=\u201d12px\u201d background_color=\u201drgba(0,0,0,0)\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||40px|50px|false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

Petra archaeological site, Jordan<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||||||||\u201d text_line_height=\u201d1.8em\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_3_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_3_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_3_font_size=\u201d26px\u201d header_3_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d text_orientation=\u201djustified\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||40px||false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe<\/h3>\n

Have you even heard of this country, which has been independent since 1975? Two\u00a0<\/span>African islands in the Gulf of Guinea<\/strong>, two tiny, formerly Portuguese pearls boasting landscapes that are every bit as good as those in the\u00a0<\/span>Seychelles<\/a>. two tiny, formerly Portuguese pearls boasting landscapes that are every bit as good as those in the Seychelles. The beaches are just as white and the sea an incredible shade of turquoise. Volcanic influences add to the tropical fauna, making these two tiny pearls a little-known paradise in the Atlantic Ocean. The Democratic Republic of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe is a\u00a0<\/span>former cocoa-producing country<\/strong>, recently redeveloped by the \u201chomem da lua\u201d or \u201cMoon Man\u201d, as the locals call him: South-African billionaire Mark Shuttleworth, who was the second space tourist. Having fallen in love with these islands, he has been developing alternative ethical tourism there, which\u00a0<\/span>respects traditions and the environment<\/strong>.<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d width=\u201d100%\u201d width_tablet=\u201d\u201d width_phone=\u201d\u201d width_last_edited=\u201don|phone\u201d max_width=\u201d1000px\u201d module_alignment=\u201dcenter\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||5px||false|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d background_enable_color=\u201doff\u201d background_enable_image=\u201doff\u201d background_size=\u201dcontain\u201d][et_pb_image src=\u201dhttps:\/\/escales.ponant.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/sao-tome-et-Principe-2.jpg\u201d alt=\u201dsao-tome-et-Principe-2\u2033 title_text=\u201dMediterranean islands and coastline\u201d align=\u201dcenter\u201d _builder_version=\u201d4.9.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d hover_enabled=\u201d0\u2033 sticky_enabled=\u201d0\u2033][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d text_font=\u201d||on||||||\u201d text_text_color=\u201d#767676\u2033 text_font_size=\u201d12px\u201d background_color=\u201drgba(0,0,0,0)\u201d custom_padding=\u201d||40px|50px|false|false\u201d]<\/p>\n

An idyllic bay in the Democratic Republic of S\u00e3o Tom\u00e9 and Pr\u00edncipe<\/span><\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d max_width=\u201d900px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d0px||0px||true|false\u201d][et_pb_column type=\u201d4_4\u2033 _builder_version=\u201d4.7.4\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d][et_pb_text _builder_version=\u201d4.7.7\u2033 _module_preset=\u201ddefault\u201d header_2_font=\u201d|300|||||||\u201d header_2_text_color=\u201d#334556\u2033 header_2_font_size=\u201d38px\u201d header_2_line_height=\u201d1.4em\u201d header_3_font=\u201d|600|||||||\u201d header_3_text_color=\u201d#307f90\u2033 header_3_font_size=\u201d26px\u201d custom_padding=\u201d40px||40px||true|\u201d]<\/p>\n

\n

Surprises are guaranteed wherever you choose to go, as our planet always keeps a secret or two in store. So here\u2019s to a new year of adventurous travel!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Why don\u2019t you start drawing up a list of your New Year\u2019s travel resolutions?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4913,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_sitemap_exclude":false,"_sitemap_priority":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"thematique":[1433],"class_list":["post-4910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-get-inspired","thematique-essential"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nA selection of unexpected destinations to explore in 2019 | Ponant Magazine<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Discover the best travel destinations for 2019: Costa Rica, Sri Lanka and Fiji, at the crossroads of nature, culture, history and tradition.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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