Paddle a canoe in the pristine wilderness of Antarctica, see seals, penguins and albatrosses, and spend the night camping on the ice — on the Antarctic Explorer Voyage.

The expedition vessel Akademik Sergei Vavilov leaves on December 30 and drops off the kayak party at Paradise Harbour, who then paddle to Wilhelmina Bay and Neko Harbour. The plan, weather permitting, is to camp on an island, snuggling down in a sleeping bag, with a
bivvy bag for extra warmth. Bon voyage!

The 14-day tour (with ten nights on board) starts at £5,499 for flights, B&B in Buenos Aires and Ushuaïa, full-board voyage, shore excursions and kayaking.

Peregrine Adventures(01635 872300, peregrineadventures.com).

Reign in Spain

For almost eight centuries the Moors controlled Spain, or al-Andalus as they called it. They left behind an astonishing legacy of art and architecture, science and learning. Step in Time Tours in Birmingham has launched a five-day Discover Muslim Spain trips to bring this history alive.

The itinerary focuses on Córdoba, the first stronghold of the Muslim Caliphate. There will also be a visit to the ruins of Madinat al-Zahra, the so-called “City of the Flower”, a summer palace, which was resplendent with hanging gardens, gold fountains and quicksilver pools, and was built by Caliph Abd al-Rahman III in the 10th century for his favourite wife. The highlight of the trip is a visit to the Alhambra in Granada, a triumph of Islamic art and architecture and the last bastion of Islamic rule in Spain.

The first departure is on June 21; the tour costs £549-£599 for flights, coach transport, three-star half- board hotels and guides.

Step in Time Tours (0870 1998788, www.muslimspain.com).

New nation

East Timor was Portuguese until 1975 when it was invaded by Indonesia; it gained independence in 2002.

The country is largely safe, but the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advises visitors to avoid border areas, and demonstrations and large crowds in Dili, the capital, as there is potential for rioting and violence — there was an angry demonstration by former soldiers of the East Timorese army on Monday.

Undiscovered Destinations has a two-week guided tour of East Timor by four-wheel-drive vehicle. The tour includes an excursion to the town of Venilale, noted for its Portuguese architecture, a visit to a silkworm factory, and snorkelling and dolphin- watching off the coral island of Atauro. There is also a chance to see the Ili Kere Kere caves at Tutuala, which are decorated with ancient cave paintings.

The tours cost £2,200 for flights, transfers, B&B in three- star hotels and pousadas, some other meals and guides. Departures are on June 17 and November 11.

Undiscovered Destinations (0191-206 4038, www.undiscovered-destinations.com).

For art lovers

A new short break from VFB Holidays celebrates the 125th anniversary of the birth of Pablo Picasso. Three-day trips to Barcelona between July 4 and October 14 start at £235 for flights, two nights’ B&B in a central hotel and entrance to the Picasso Museum in the Gothic quarter. The artist donated 50 paintings from his “blue period”, and 900 other works to the museum. (Picasso was born in Málaga, but moved to Barcelona when he was 14.) VFB also has three-day breaks to Paris, with tickets to the Rodin and Carrière exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay. Prices start at £147, which includes travel on Eurostar and two nights’ B&B.

VFB Holidays (01242 240350, www.vfbholidays.co.uk).

Five-star families

Taking the children away, but desperate for a rest yourself? The tour operator Expressions has done research into the amenities and ambience that are essential for family harmony. The Expressions Family programme lists features such as interconnecting rooms, medical services and baby listening for each of the four and five-star properties in its new family progamme, as well as activities for stressed-out parents. In addition, milk warmers, sterilisers, nappies and the usual baby clobber that takes up your whole luggage allowance can be pre-booked.

Rather like a traditional small village, the Hotel Grüner Baum, a former hunting lodge built by Archduke John of Austria, in its own national park near Bad Gastein, and family run for three generations, has complimentary sledges, mountain bikes, an exercise room for children and guided walks and mountain picnics. There is also a mini-club for children aged 3 to 12 in the holidays.

Parents, meanwhile, can fish, hike, play tennis or relax on their flower-filled balconies or in the spa. A week in a family apartment for four (two adults and two children under 12) with scheduled flights, car hire and half board starts at £3,355 per family.

Expressions (020-7433 2665, www.familyexpressions.co.uk).