I'm lucky enough to have travelled a lot, but was still thrilled to visit Iceland for the first time. I wasn't too sure of what to expect — but was pleasantly surprised (and amazed) by the diversity. This is undoubtedly a country where you see sights (and try food) you wouldn't find anywhere else in the world.

We were hosted by Adventure Center partner Exodus. Like all of our tour operator partners, they provided a first-rate experience with a wonderful local tour operator, Oskar Guojonsson. He is a man who loves his country. And it shows.

I have seen many beautiful buildings. The Alhambra drew me back several times, and the Taj Mahal left me deeply moved. I now add to that list the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. It stopped me in my tracks, and my jaw dropped when I walked into the central courtyard.

There is stunning beauty in the mosaics, the enormous space enclosed by the arcades, the cool marble tiles of the courtyard, the emotions on the faces of the faithful and the melodious, and the hypnotic chanting of the muezzin. The Umayyad Mosque should be on any traveller's must-see list.

If you have less than three weeks and want to explore two of South America's greatest highlights - the Inca Trail and the Galapagos Islands - then this is the tour for you.

I travelled to Peru in March, which is typically known as the "wet season", but it turned out to be a fabulous time to go.