TAKE PART


Sitting back and spectating doesn’t always cut it. These 10 experiences — for 2024 and beyond — will get you flying, partying, painting, swimming, dancing and racing. Words: Nora Wallaya


International Kite Festival GUJARAT, INDIA 8-14 JANUARY Kite-makers from around the world launch their creations at this jubilant celebration of the return of sunshine after winter. You’ll enjoy traditional styles from Japanese rokkaku (fighting kites) to Malaysian wau bulan (moon kites). Locals and visitors get involved, too — so bring your kite and join in. The festival takes place in Ahmedabad; Gujarat state’s largest metropolis and a UNESCO World Heritage City. ikf.gujarattourism.com


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Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 16 FEBRUARY TO 3 MARCH A parade on 2 March — led by First Nations peoples, Dykes on Bikes and 78ers (the folks who founded Mardi Gras in 1978) — is the highlight of Australia’s foremost Pride event. The LGBTQ+ community celebrates love and community in a glittering ceremony, and visitors are encouraged to join the revelry. Actual glitter is banned for environmental reasons, and attendees are asked to pick up sparkle-wear at secondhand shops. mardigras.org.au


NATIONALGEOGRAPHIC.COM/TRAVEL


Jungle Ultra MANÚ NATIONAL PARK, PERU 2-10 JUNE With racers facing 143 miles of dense Amazon rainforest — and even denser heat and humidity — this is among the toughest ultramarathons. Navigating such terrain demands resilience and determination, but the camaraderie of the trail team will keep you going. Peru’s nearly four-million-acre national park comprises diverse tropical habitats, including cloud forest and Andean grassland ecosystems. Application required. beyondtheultimate.co.uk


Lakia-Jukola Orienteering Relay KAUHAVA, FINLAND 15-16 JUNE This is one for old-school explorers, as your team of six needs solid map-reading and compass navigation skills for the overnight relay. It’s among the world’s most prestigious orienteering challenges, with seven legs of up to nine miles each — all amid some of Finland’s most dramatic scenery (“The terrain may surprise you!” declare the organisers). Sign up for the later legs to see in the sunrise. Application required. jukola.com


29029 Everesting NORTH AMERICA JUNE TO OCTOBER Amid concern about the environmental cost of summiting Everest, there’s a growing appetite for more eco-conscious approaches. Hiking group 29029 Everesting leads the way, its name representing the number of feet to Everest’s summit. You have 36 hours to repeatedly scale a mountain to the equivalent height; sites include Sun Valley, Jackson Hole, Snowbasin, Whistler and Mont-Tremblant. Application required. 29029everesting.com


IMAGES: ALAMY; ALVIN KIBET


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