July 2017: The latest trips from Insight Guides

1. Italy 

What? Express trip around the Roman sites 

Which trip? Eternal Rome for the Weekend

For a quick, romantic, summer city break, Rome is a great destination. This three-day tour of the ancient capital encompasses a guided city tour of all the major sites; walk down the Spanish steps to the Trevi Fountain where it is customary to throw a coin over your shoulder into the pool while making a wish. 

From here you will head to Rome's most iconic building, the Colosseum, to take in the historical and cultural foundations of the capital. Move on to the exploration of Ancient Rome, learning more about the history of the great empire. Finally, a tour of Vatican City will leave you awestruck; the architecture and artwork are difficult to match. 

This trip includes plenty of time to revisit sites at your leisure, stroll through the Roman streets, shop on the Via Condotti, take in other sites such as the Pantheon, or relax in Piazzas with light refreshments, soaking up the sun rays and watching the world go by. 

2. Dubai

What? Family fun at the theme parks

Which trip? Family Parks of Dubai

This jam-packed Dubai itinerary offers guaranteed sun and fun for the kids. Children will be kept occupied with a new theme park to visit every day. The first day is taken up at Aquaventure Water Park, a perfect way to start the holiday, with private beaches to relax on, lots of water to cool off in, numerous slides for all ages, river rapids and tropical landscapes to admire. 

Over the next three days you will get a choice of parks, Bollywood, a colourful theme park with plenty of rides and attractions all aimed to get you involved in the cinematic world of Bollywood; Legoland which is great for all ages with attractions made from giant Lego; the Legoland Water Park, where you can relax on the lazy river in a Lego themed rubber ring or Motiongate which has a different theme for every ride.

3. Indonesia 

What? Adventure in the jungle and paradise relaxation 

Which trip? Honeymoon in Indonesia

This Indonesian honeymoon holiday is part adventure and discovery and part relaxation. Start with a three-day cruise along the Rungan River through the jungle in Borneo, dining to the twilight sounds of wild animals, kayaking and canoeing to local villages, learning about the traditional customs and tasting the local delights. 

The second part of the holiday is four days paradise on a private island in the Riau Archipelago. Sleep in an oversea villa, spend the days lounging around the infinity pool or swimming in the calm ocean, choose from a number of massages and relaxation treatments on offer in the spa or get involved in the numerous land and sea activities on offer; from paddle boarding to snorkelling to hiking through the rustic landscape.

4. Spain 

What? Wine tasting, cellar and vineyard tours

Which trip? A Luxury Journey Through the Vineyards of La Rioja  

A four-day wine tour and tasting in the Rioja region will take you to some ancient wine cellars and historical wineries. Start the trip at the Dinastia Vivanco Museum of Wine Culture to begin your education on the old and new processes of wine production. This will be followed by a vineyard tour where you will better understand the process, from the planting, to growing, to picking to barreling, to bottling. 

Wine tastings of the indulgent, smooth and luxurious Rioja wines will be broken up by traditional lunches in converted wine cellars and walled castles. Roasted pig from a wood-fired oven, potatoes, grilled lamb and chorizo are all on the menu. Take tours of the wine cellars including the great ancient cellar, Centennial Cellar.

5. Spain

What? Northern Spain driving tour

Which trip? The Cities, Mountains and Beaches of Northern Spain 

Begin your Northern Spain trip in the white sandy bay of San Sebastian. See what the city has to offer before driving to Logroño, stopping in Pamplona en route visiting the historical sites, including the Chapel of San Fermin. 

Logroño is a famous for its Rioja wines but the region also boasts numerous adventure activities from kayaking to balloon flights. Of course there will be a wine tasting, vineyard and cellar tour during your stay. The next place to discover is Oviedo, where you will not only see the sites but also get the chance to try some of the traditional local cuisines, including stewed meats and almond cake. From here take a cable car ride 1850 metres above sea level at Picos de Europa for views over the hilly landscape. End the trip in the cultural city of Bilbao, where you can explore the streets, the tapas bars and the iconic Guggenheim Museum.

6. Oman

What? City and desert discovery

Which trip? Omani Adventure: Deserts, Dunes and Turtle Watching 

Oman is a land of mystery, with the smell of spices lingering in the hot climate, expansive deserts, elegant buildings and colourful markets. Discover it all on this trip. 

Start in the capital, Muscat, with a city tour taking in the luxurious Grand Mosque, complete with Swarovskii crystals and Persian silk, and the historic Nakhl Fort before heading into the mountains, visiting traditional villages, taking in the views over gorges and keeping an eye out for some desert snakes. Spend a night sleeping under the clear starry sky of the desert, swim in a blue oasis surrounded by palms which offer a welcome relief from the intense heat and see turtles coming out of the sea to nest on the sandy beaches. 

The last five days of the trip will be spent in Muscat, where you can enjoy the beach and luxury hotel pool. There are numerous activities you can choose to partake in or feel free to continue your city discovery.

Insight Guides covers numerous destinations worldwide so if the latest holidays outlined above don't fit your requirements, there's plenty more to choose from: browse available itineraries online now or talk to a local expert to plan your perfect holiday from scratch