tours tourist spots: the top six cities to visit in 2014

Hot spots: the top six cities to visit in 2014 Copacabana and Sugar Loaf mountain in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo: AFP Among our cities to watch, Rio's ready to party like never before, Tokyo makes a comeback and Riga shines as Capital of Culture. RIO DE JANEIRO Rio loves to throw a party and its hosting of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics has given the city plenty...

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Hanoi to Luang Prabang cycle with Ben Groundwater

Hanoi to Luang Prabang cycle with Ben Groundwater Hanoi by bike Enjoy a spectacular journey of discovery from North Vietnam to Laos in the company of Fairfax travel blogger and columnist Ben Groundwater. We will explore at handlebar level this friendly land, where exceptional hospitality is guaranteed. Without a doubt cycling is one of the best ways to explore a country and our complete...

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Australia's best beach towns

Summer is coming: Australia's best beach towns Backpacker haven is all grown up ... Airlie Beach, Queensland. Photo: Tourism Queensland With summer just around the corner, Ute Junker leaves no grain of sand unturned in her guide to the best beach towns on Australia's east coast. It's the great Australian summer ritual: packing up and heading for the beach. But not all beach towns are...

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The world's safari hottest destinations for 2014: countries

The world's hottest destinations for 2014: countries The Hornbjarg sea cliffs in Iceland's Westfjords. Photo: Getty Images Traveller's globetrotting contributors cast their votes for the big six countries set to make their presence felt next year. COLOMBIA As peace settles in Colombia and visitors seek to broaden their South America travel, this once-infamous country is the continent's...

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DUBAI Fireworks explode from world's tallest building in Expo celebration

Fireworks explode from world's tallest building in Expo  celebration Dubai beat off opposition from Brazil, Russia and Turkey on Wednesday to win the right to host the 2020 World Expo,  sparking celebrations in the Gulf city and a stunning fireworks display at the world's tallest building. City authorities declared Thursday a school holiday to celebrate the victory. The...

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Argentina Machu Picchu - the ancient city of the Inca Empire

Machu Picchu - the ancient city of the Inca Empire I don't remember the beginning of our journey to Machu Picchu that well... Dima and I flew to Cusco (3600 m above the sea level), and after continuous bargaining hired a cab for local sightseeing. I felt sort of alright in the beginning, but when we arrived to Pisac, the ancient Inca Fortress (about 4000m altitude), my un-acclimatized body...

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