Right place, right time

January

SKI IN EASTERN EUROPE

European ski resorts are seeing some fantastic powder but those on a tight budget should consider heading east, taking advantage of new flights from Danube Wings launched recently. They link Luton, Manchester and Dublin to Poprad-Tatry in Slovakia, which is less than an hour's drive from Jasna, which has a growing off-piste reputation. Visit www.jasna.sk for accommodation details.

GET SPIRITUAL IN INDIA

Kumbh Mela is the biggest religious gathering on the planet, held four times every 12 years in places of spiritual significance. In 2010, it is being held at Haridwar, at the foot of the Himalayas, in the state of Uttarakhand, running until April 28. Millions will come to bathe in the Ganges, float lamps in the river and take part in celebrations. It will be an incredible spectacle but can be chaotic, so it's best to join an organised tour. See www.kumbh2010haridwar.gov.in for more information. For package trips including the mela, book through Transindus (www.transindus.co.uk).

February

TAKE THE FAMILY TO THE SEYCHELLES

The Seychelles have a reputation for high-end glamour — and prices. But the Ephelia Resort (www.epheliaresort.com), which opens this month, aims to change all that: The four-star resort is ideal for families, with four swimming pools, two stunning beaches and a daily children's club. The hotel also has its own Padi dive centre and is on Mahe island, so no onward internal flights are needed. Best are the opening offers: A week half-board costs £1,249 (Dh7,393) with flights. Book through Audley Travel on www.audleytravel.com

CHECK INTO A SNOW HOLE

Ice hotels are so last decade; this year the winter accommodation of choice is the snow hole, thanks to a new trip offered by the Torridon Hotel in the Scottish Highlands. The downside is that you have to dig it yourself before spending the night there. Heading out from the hotel with mountain guide Chris Wilson, you will be shown how to tunnel into a slope, digging out a corridor and a room with sleeping platforms. The experience costs £325 (Dh1,924) half-board, including a night either side at the hotel, available on February 5-7 or March 5-7. Book on www.prideofbritainhotels.com

SEE THE WINTEROLYMPICS

The Winter Olympics kick off on February 13 but with accommodation in Whistler, Canada (where the downhill skiing events take place), either already booked or going for stratospherically high prices, the best plan is to base yourself in Vancouver. The resort of Cypress Mountain (www.cypressmountain.com) is just half an hour away from the city, so is perfect for day trips. The freestyle skiing and snowboard half-pipe events are taking place there, so there will be plenty of atmosphere and Olympic buzz to enjoy. For packages, try Inghams (www.inghams.co.uk) and see www.vancouver2010.com for details of the games.

March

GO OUT ON THE TOON

Spring is the ideal time for a city break and Newcastle offers an unbeatable mix of festivals and attractions in March. If it's a family weekend, older kids will love the Science Fest (March 12-21; www.newcastlesciencefest.co.uk), with exhibitions at museums throughout the city, and the AV Festival (March 5-14; www.avfest.co.uk) of electronic arts. One of the biggest events will be the illumination of Hadrian's Wall on March 13 (www.hadrians-wall.org), when 500 gas-fired braziers will light the wall from end to end. Book a hotel at www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com

PARTY IN THE SNOW

Forget summer festivals, these days it's all about partying in the snow. This year sees the brand new Big Snow Festival in Arinsal, Andorra, from March 14-21, with headliners including DJs Calvin Harris and Eddie Halliwell, and sets from Judge Jules and Micky Finn. Snowbombing, the original and biggest ski and music festival, runs from April 5-10 in Mayrhofen, Austria, and this year will be headlined by Fatboy Slim. A week at Big Snow (www.thebigsnowfestival.com) costs from £459 (Dh2,718), including flights and B&B accommodation. Snowbombing (www.snowbombing.com) costs from £279 (Dh1,652) with self-catering accommodation and festival wristband.

April

LEARN DUALIE SURFING

For many, April is the start of the surfing season but if you are unsure of your board technique, consider hiring a "Dualie" board. The latest trend in surfing, Dualies are bodyboards for two, so you can take to the water with a partner or a friend, and younger kids can surf safely with mum or dad. Extreme Academy in Watergate Bay hires out Dualie boards; the Watergate Bay Hotel has a family room (sleeping five) from £245 (Dh1,451), with dinner and breakfast. Visit www.watergatebay.co.uk/extremeacademy.htm

GO NUTS FOR COCOA

Hotel Chocolat is a high-street chain of chocolate shops but this year it is making good its name and opening a real hotel. The six-room Real Hotel Chocolat is on the Caribbean island of St Lucia, on the 140-acre Rabot Estate, a working cocoa plantation from which the shop sources its supplies. Guests can learn how cocoa is processed and, of course, have a tasting (or two) of the chocolate produced. Room rates are still being finalised.

GO FLORAL IN GHENT

Every five years the picturesque medieval town of Ghent in Belgium comes into bloom with the Floralies, a ten-day celebration of flowers, with displays, talks and contemporary floral art around the city. The Floralies has been held for more than 200 years and in 2010, more than 300 florists, designers and landscape gardeners will contribute to the festival. Buy festival tickets (£20, or Dh118) through www.floralien.be For accommodation, see www.visitgent.be

May

HUNT FOR VAMPIRES

Vampire fans and addicts of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga can discover the real backdrops to the books and the films on a new tour from Trek America, which has its first departure this month. Each trip coincides with the full moon and the itinerary combines walking through the vast landscapes of Oregon and Washington states, with nocturnal activities including a night kayak tour of Scappoose Bay. The 11-night camping trip also includes a guided tour of Forks, the town that is central to the books and a visit to Mount St Helens. The trip costs £699 (Dh586), including transfers, the services of a tour leader and all activities but no flights. Visit www.trekamerica.co.uk for details.

DO ISTANBUL IN STYLE

If you are thinking of heading to Istanbul for the Capital of Culture celebrations, there is a new way to reach Turkey — in style. The Danube Express luxury train is launching a new eight-day London-Istanbul itinerary, setting off from St Pancras and taking in Budapest, Prague, Transylvania and rural Bulgaria before reaching Istanbul on Day 6. You have two days to explore the city before flying home. The steep £5,290 (Dh31,323) price tag does include the flight back to Britain and all accommodation, with dinner and breakfast (www.danube-express.com).

SEE SHANGHAI ON SHOW

One of the glitziest cities on the planet, Shanghai ups the ante in May, when it launches the Shanghai World Expo, running from May 1-October 31. The theme is Better City Better Life and there will be 12 pavilions spread over a 5-square-kilometre site, with dozens of countries exhibiting and taking part. It is expected to attract more visitors than any previous expo. For packages including Expo tickets, see Wendy Wu Tours (www.wendywutours.co.uk).

June

LIVE THE LONGEST DAY

Make the most of the longest day of the year (June 21) with a trip to Gothenburg in Sweden, where, at this time of year, the Sun never really sets and a three-day break can feel like a week. An added bonus is that a recently discovered painting by Leonardo da Vinci, La Bella Principessa, will be on display for the first time as part of the city's And There Was Light exhibition (visit www.and-there-was-light.com for details), which brings together works by Michelangelo, Raphael and Da Vinci. Check out www.visitsweden.com for accommodation details.

SEE THE WORLD CUP LIVE

This June, all eyes (well, almost all) will be on South Africa, as it will host the Football World Cup. The matches will be played in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, with the final match taking place on July 11 in Johannesburg. Some operators still have packages available, along with tickets: Emirates Tours has a trip of six nights to Pretoria, including tickets to England's first game, in Rustenburg on June 12, from £2,319 (Dh13,720), which include flight fares; Thomas Cook also has a variety of packages, which include tickets to all three of England's first-round games. Check out www.emiratestours.co.uk/fifa and www.thomascooksport.com for further detail.

July

A RARE SPANISH FIESTA

The Spanish love their festivals and one that only happens every few years is inevitably going to be a pretty big deal. "Xacobeo" is a holy year that happens every time the feast of Saint James — July 25 — falls on a Sunday. The next, after this summer, will be 2021. The northern cities will be filled with pilgrims on the route to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, because only in a holy year can they pass through the Puerto del Perdon — a door into the cathedral at Santiago which is bricked up at other times; all who pass through the door have their sins pardoned. See www.turgalicia.es for accommodation and information.

THE 41ST PASSION PLAY

It only happens once a decade and you won't recognise the names of any of the actors but the Passion Play in Oberammergau, Bavaria, is one of the biggest theatrical events in the world. The production runs from May 15 until October 3 but the long July evenings are the perfect time to see it: The play begins at 2.30pm and doesn't finish until 10.30pm (there is a three-hour interval in between). All the participants — up to 900 in the crowd scenes — must have lived in the village for at least 20 years. German specialist DER Tours still has tickets and packages available: To book, visit www.dertour.co.uk

CENTENARY TRAIN RIDE

Soaring to more than 2,100 metres, the Bernina Pass in Switzerland is one of the most spectacular stretches of railway in the world — and this year celebrates its 100th anniversary. The lush pastures of the Swiss mountains under clear July skies are best seen through picture windows on a leisurely train journey. The anniversary itinerary of the Great Rail Journeys (see www.greatrail.com) includes crossing the Bernina Pass in a 1930s Pullman carriage. The ten-day trip costs from £1,798 (Dh10,636), which includes half-board accommodation, excursions and all rail travel. Check out www.mybernina.ch for further information.

August

OUTBACK CATTLE DRIVE

Cattle drives across the vast landscapes of southern Australia are no small undertaking but the Great Australian Outback Cattle Drive, from July 30-August 20 is set to be a special event. The event is a recreation of old-style drives and involves a 320-mile journey along the Oodnadatta Track with about 500 cattle and 120 horses. Bales (see www.balesworldwide.com) has a ten-day holiday with four nights on the cattle drive, from £3,625 (Dh21,444), including flight fares, accommodation in Adelaide and Sydney, equipment and most meals.

TALL SHIPS RACE

Hartlepool is set to host its biggest party, when up to 100 tall ships sail into its harbour on August 7 to bring to a close the second and final Tall Ships race for 2010. The ships will have set off from the Norwegian port of Kristiansand on August 1 and will remain docked in Hartlepool for three nights. There will be street parties, live music and celebrations throughout the town before a spectacular Parade of Sail on August 10 sees the ships head back out to sea. For information and accommodation options, see www.hartlepooltallships2010.com

GET TO KNOW ZIMBABWE

The new decade may, one hopes, mean a fresh start for Zimbabwe. The country is cautiously opening up to tourism again and South African tour company Wilderness Safaris is offering tours that start and end in Zambia but dip into Zimbabwe's wildlife parks — such as Mana Pools — which see virtually no visitors. The British Foreign Office does not advise against travelling to Zimbabwe and going with an experienced guide is the safest way. The trip costs from £2,173 (Dh12,848), including flights, transfers and accommodation, booked through Expert Africa (www.expertafrica.com).

September

RHODES IN STYLE

The schools are back, the Mediterranean is less manic and it's a great time to visit the newly glamorous Greek island of Rhodes, which has a raft of glitzy new five-star hotels. Three big openings this year are the Kresten Royal Villas (www.thekrestenroyal.gr) and the ecofriendly Marquise (www.lamarquise.gr), both near Rhodes Town, and Aquagrand in Lindos (www.aquagrand.gr). Visit www.rodosisland.gr for more information.

NEW ENGLAND BY BIKE

Cycling holidays boomed in the Noughties and the trend is expanding beyond Europe. US specialist Bon Voyage has introduced cycling tours of New England for 2010, taking in Vermont and New Hampshire and staying in small, historical inns. Book for September and the daily cycle ride (about 25 miles) will take you past some of the most spectacular autumn colours on the planet. The eight-night trip costs from £1,395 (Dh8,243), including flights, accommodation, car and bike hire, through Bon Voyage.

October

UNTRODDEN INDIA

The state of Gujarat in northwestern India is something of a revelation even to those who think they know India well. It's scattered with pristine marble temples, rural villages and 1,600 kilometres of coastline. Wild Frontiers is introducing Gujarat for the first time in 2010, with a tour including the state capital, Ahmedabad, and the historic towns of Poshina and Bhuj. Book on www.wildfrontiers.co.uk The 15-day trip costs £1,945 (Dh11,493).

WATCH THE RYDER CUP

The eyes of the world (well, the golfing world) will be on Wales from October 1-3, when the Ryder Cup takes place at the Celtic Manor Resort near Newport. There is no substitute for being there but you have to be really lucky for that: Tickets are distributed through a ballot process — visit www.rydercupwales2010.com for details. Applications are accepted until April 30, with the draw taking place in May. Check out www.rcts.co.uk for more information.

MONTENEGRO ON FOOT

Tiny Montenegro is slowly coming out from beneath Croatia's shadow and its towering mountains and unspoilt beaches make it a great place for a walking holiday. HF Holidays includes Montenegro in its programme for the first time this year and October is an ideal month for enjoying the Lovcen National Park, breathtaking Kotor Bay and ancient trails around Lake Skadar. A week costs from £659 (Dh3,894), including flights, transfers, half-board accommodation and a full programme of walks (www.hfholidays.co.uk).

November

EAT HESTON'S COOKING

Tired of trying (and failing) to get a reservation at the Fat Duck? The good news is that in November, Heston Blumenthal opens his first restaurant in London, at the Mandarin Oriental in Knightsbridge. Even better, the restaurant seats 140, so the chances of sampling Blumenthal's legendarily eccentric take on classic British dishes should be relatively high. Visit www.mandarinoriental.com

VIVA ZAPATA

The 100th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution is on November 20, when Pancho Villa and other insurgents led the country to freedom, and Mexico is planning to celebrate the centenary. The tourist office has worked out suggested itineraries following in the footsteps of key movers and shakers in the revolution (one such is the Zapatista Route, tracing the operations of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation through the states of Morelos, Puebla and Mexico State) and on November 20, there is a parade at the central square in Mexico City. See www.bicentenario.gob.mx/english for details. Tailormade Explore (www.tailormadeexplore.co.uk) can arrange Revolution-themed itineraries, which can be combined with a ride on the Copper Canyon railway, trips to Chihuahua country and beachcombing in Baja California. Prices start from £3,275 (Dh19,353), including flights from London.

December

CATCH THE AURORA

Next winter is set to be one of the best times to catch the elusive northern lights, as solar activity is on the increase after hitting a minimum in 2008. (The more solar activity, the more the aurora may be visible.) Head to Tromso in northern Norway and you'll miss the New Year crowds and can join in with the pre-Christmas partying — and with nights that last pretty much all day, they do love a party. A three-night trip with Scantours (www.scantours.co.uk) costs from £660 (Dh3,900), including half-board accommodation and flights.

ANTARCTIC SUMMER

Hailed as "one of the most exciting new expedition vessels to hit the water", Le Boreal will set off on its maiden voyage to Antarctica on December 6. It has 104 en-suite cabins, Wi-Fi and a spa but is also the most environment-friendly ship to sail in Antarctica. Features include a waste-management system (no waste will be discharged into the sea), recycling facilities and a positioning system that ensures it does not drop anchor in a fragile marine reserve. A 15-day trip with Abercrombie and Kent (www.abercrombiekent.co.uk) starts at £6,795 (Dh40,164), including flights, accommodation, transfers, shore excursions and all meals and drinks.