Out and about in the Himalayas
Walk through the vast valleys of the Himalayas, stopping at monasteries and staying in local homes on a new 15-day trip in India created by Exodus (exodus.co.uk). The tour begins in Delhi before moving on to a seven-day trek into the wild homeland of the snow leopard. Prices for the trip, which departs next February, start at £2,499pp, including flights from London and accommodation.
madeleine cakes

Learn how to make perfect madeleine cakes

Foodie tips for trips to France
Learn how to make tarte tatin, bouillabaisse and other classic French dishes from some of France’s best local cooks in France from the Source, a new travel-and-recipe book from Carolyn Boyd (Lonely Planet, £19.99). For example, the head baker, Stéphane Zins, from La Boite à Madeleines in Commercy describes his secret tips for making perfect madeleine cakes. If you feel like trying his cakes, stay at Hostellerie de L’Isle En Bray for £116pp a night (00 33 3 29 90 49 90, chateau-montbras.com); the magnificent castle dates from 1598.

A voyage to Antarctica
Book before July 31 and you can save 25 per cent on the cost of a cruise that follows in the footsteps of Shackleton. Explore (explore.co.uk) has put together a 20-day journey that begins in Montevideo in Uruguay and stops off at the Falkland Islands, South Georgia and islands in the Antarctic. The cruise begins on October 23 and the reduced price is from £5,625pp, with all meals and guides included; flights to Montevideo are extra.

The Dar Ahlam hotel

The Dar Ahlam hotel is a four-hour drive from Marrakesh

Sleep under the desert stars
Spend days sampling Moroccan delicacies in the Dar Ahlam hotel with a chance to sleep under the stars. Double rooms this summer cost from £462pp a night (darahlam.com). Guests also have the opportunity to explore the Dades and Draa valleys with expert guides. Travel from London to Marrakesh, then choose either a scenic drive of four hours or a short flight to Ouarzazate airport, where the hotel offers a collection service. Easyjet has return flights to Marrakesh from about £110.

From Havana to Viñales
Some of the world’s most thrilling road trips are described in a new book, Epic Drives of the World (Lonely Planet, £24.99). From crossing the Kalahari in Botswana to hitting Route 66 in the US, the whole globe is covered, with advice on how best to tackle the routes. For example, in Cuba the 112-mile journey from Havana to Viñales is described — best undertaken in a classic car such as a 1955 Chevrolet. Or, to keep costs down, you can rent a car in advance to collect at Havana airport for as little as £10 (expedia.co.uk). Return flights to Havana from London start from £155pp via Cologne (eurowings.com).