Five best... tours of iconic sites
Introducing a new category for this year, you voted the Peruvian ruins your top overseas tourist attraction. Here we also list the four runners up, along with new ways to discover them all.
1. Machu Picchu
A new way to reach the Inca ruins: it's now possible to trek between four different mountain lodges on an old Inca route, walking from Salkantay and ending at Aguas Calientes near Machu Picchu, via smaller Inca sites, glacial lake swims and gourmet picnics. It's a four-day trek, but the trip takes seven days, beginning and ending in Cusco.
Mountainlodgesofperu.com, from around £1,200pp full-board.
2. Great Barrier Reef
Some of Australia's best surfing waves lie not off the coast of Bondi but above the kinks, bends and gaps of the Great Barrier Reef. Breaks near the Capricorn-Bunker group of reefs and islands are accessible on a live-aboard surfing boat trip with MV James Cook.
1770 Environmental Tours (1770jamescook.com.au). Charter the boat, with crew, fishing equipment and all meals, for A$2,150 per day for up to 10 people (minimum four days).
3. Iguazu Falls
A new hotel, Posada Puerto Bemberg, has opened 30mins from the Iguazu national park, making a perfect base for a tour of the falls, the Jesuit missions of San Ignacio and a boat trip to Paraguay. It has 14 rooms, a wine cave, terraces overlooking the Parana River and a natural pool.
Last Frontiers (01296 653000, lastfrontiers.com), from £1,932pp for six days inc flights to Buenos Aires from UK, internal flights, hotel in Buenos Aires and most meals.
4. Grand Canyon national park
Mules carry travellers into the canyon on an overnight trip along the Inner Gorge, across the Colorado river on the suspension bridge and up Bright Angel Canyon to Phantom Ranch, which lies at the bottom surrounded by trees, and has rustic cabins and dorms. The ranch is only accessible this way, or by river.
Xanterra.com. From $420pp, or $743 for two, full-board.
5. Angkor temple complex
After you've seen Angkor Wat, book this new 4x4 safari trip to the other farther flung temples of the complex, including Koh Ker and Beng Mealea. The hordes never make it this far, but the ruins are just as spectacular and reached by bumpy trails through rural villages and forest wilderness.
Experience South East Asia (0845 680 0638, experiencesoutheastasia.com). 4x4 day trip for £150pp, or an overnight trip including a luxury tented camp stay for £210pp. Three people per 4x4.