8 trips of a lifetime you need to stop putting off with Wendy Wu

From wild bears in Hokkaido to lemurs beneath ancient baobabs, these eight new and reimagined Wendy Wu Tours itineraries prove the trip you’ve been dreaming about is closer than you think.

We all have a list of trips we’ll take ‘one day’, tucked away for some future version of ourselves with more time, more money, more courage. But one day should be now. For decades, Wendy Wu Tours has been turning that someday into an itinerary – taking travellers deeper into Asia, Latin America, Africa and beyond – than the guidebooks dare to go. This year, that means fresh routes through emerging corners of the world and unexpected new angles on old favourites – with so many inclusions, all guided by locals who know exactly where to find the good stuff.

Here are eight reasons to stop waiting.

1. Northern Japan: Secrets of Hokkaido

lake akan in winter, japan — Be immersed in the culture of the Ainu people at Lake Akan. (Credit: Kris Tian)

While Honshu gets a lot of attention, Hokkaido is an under-the-radar gem. Ride a cable car up the slopes of Mount Asahidake for views across a volcanic wonderland, then cruise the Shiretoko coastline scanning the shoreline for brown bears. At Lake Akan, a UNESCO-recognised dance performance opens a window into the traditions of the Indigenous Ainu people, while the rolling rainbow-hued flower fields, relaxing onsen and rich culinary traditions of Sapporo present a vibrant, sun-drenched alternative to the snow-covered landscape most Australians know. Experience it on the 14 Days Go Beyond Tour.

2. Spirit of Kyrgyzstan

Issyk-Kul lake Kyrgyzstan on wendy wu tour — Sleep on the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake. (Credit: Mike Dudin)

The Stans are having a moment. And it’s easy to see why on this Wendy Wu tour capturing the Spirit of Kyrgyzstan. Wander through the red rock formations and folds of Skazka Canyon, sink into Ak-Suu’s mineral-rich hot springs, and spend two nights in a private, ensuite yurt camp on the shores of Issyk-Kul Lake – waking to mountain views worthy of snapping for your next screensaver. Along the way, enjoy lunch with a local family of musicians where you will learn how to make delicious borsook and understand more about Kyrgyz culture. Join Wendy Wu’s 12 Days Classic Tour to discover it all.

3. Pearls of the Philippines

See the Chocolate Hills in Bohol. (Credit: Giuliano Gabella)

Embark on a captivating journey around the Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7000 islands where natural wonders and ancient heritage await. On Wendy Wu’s 15 Days Go Beyond Group Tour, cruise through Palawan’s cathedral-like Underground River, one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature, then head north to Sagada to see hanging coffins suspended on ancient cliffs and discover the Hapao Rice Terraces. Bohol delivers its otherworldly Chocolate Hills and a sanctuary for tiny, tree-dwelling tarsiers, while an immersive cooking class will teach you about the cultivation of cocoa beans and how to transform them into chocolate.

4. Ultimate Indonesia

komodo dragon in indonesia — See Komodo dragons, the world’s largest living lizard. (Credit: David Clode)

This group tour presents Indonesia in full – an epic, immersive sweep from Sumatra to Bali via three of the archipelago’s most extraordinary islands. Trek the rainforests of Gunung Leuser National Park in search of wild orangutans, marvel at the tri-coloured crater lakes of Mount Kelimutu, then board a boat through Komodo National Park to come face-to-face with the world’s largest living lizard. Finish with a soak in Soa’s volcanic hot springs on Flores before returning to Bali where you can flop and drop for a few days post-tour. Let the 22 Days Go Beyond Group Tour take you there.

5. China & Mongolia Heartlands

Great Wall of china — Walk the Great Wall. (Credit: William Olivieri)

Two neighbours. Two entirely different worlds. One 20-day Fully Inclusive Classic Tour. Walk the Great Wall and cruise the Yangtze checking off a list of iconic sights in China, then cross into Mongolia, where the Gobi’s edge gives way to endless steppe. Sleep beneath the stars in a traditional ger camp, watch the takhi – also known as Przewalski’s horse and once extinct in the wild – roam free at Khustai National Park and share a home-cooked meal with a nomadic family who’ll teach you to make traditional Mongolian dishes like buuz (steamed dumplings) or tsuivan (a beloved noodle stew).

6. Tokyo, Alaska & Seattle

pike Place Market sign in seattle — Feel the bustle of famous Pike Place Market. (Credit: Angel Ceballos)

Trade land for sea for something entirely different. This journey pairs a sushi-making masterclass in Tokyo with a 14-night voyage aboard Holland America’s Noordam, crossing the North Pacific to Alaska. Watch for Kodiak bears from the deck, drift through the sheltered waterways of the Inside Passage and dock in Sitka, Ketchikan and Prince Rupert before disembarking in Seattle for a wander through the stalls of Pike Place Market, known for its fishmongers who send seafood flying through the air to their customers when they complete a purchase. Embark on this unique journey with the 22 Days Classic Cruise & Tour.

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7. Southern India & Sri Lanka

traditional boat in kerala back waters sri lanka — Drift through Kerala’s palm-fringed backwaters. (Credit: Nature Photographer)

Two countries, one unforgettable rhythm. On Wendy Wu’s 15 Days Fully Inclusive Classic Group Tour, drift through Kerala’s palm-fringed backwaters aboard a traditional houseboat, then cross to Sri Lanka for a safari through Minneriya National Park in search of wild elephants. The train ride over the Nine Arch Bridge is one of the world’s most scenic, taking you through a region where tea plantations blanket the hill country in green. An epicurean adventure through Kandy also serves up the island’s culinary treasures using the warmth of toasted spices, fresh cinnamon and fiery coconut sambols.

8. Madagascar Untamed

A Parsons Chameleon in a National Park in Madagascar — Spot chameleons in Ranomafana National Park. (Credit: Getty Images/ Dario Endara)

Madagascar rewards curious travellers, and this immersive 21 Days Go Beyond Wendy Wu itinerary goes further than most. Spot chameleons and golden bamboo lemurs deep in Ranomafana National Park, wander the hillside streets of old Fianarantsoa and listen for the haunting calls of the rescued primates echoing through the trees at Vakona Private Reserve. The 21-day itinerary builds to a candlelit dinner beneath the ancient baobabs of Reniala Private Reserve, the kind of evening that will stay with you long after you’ve returned home.

With decades of expertise across Asia and beyond, Wendy Wu Tours doesn’t just show you a destination – it takes you deeper into it with fully inclusive itineraries, flexible deposits, your choice of airline, travel disruption protection and 24/7 emergency assistance, wherever your trip of a lifetime takes you.

Start planning your next adventure at wendywutours.com.au.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.

8 trips of a lifetime you need to stop putting off