Destinations

The rangers told us to stand still and in awe, we obeyed. We did not want 226 kilos of mountain gorilla charging us, even in play. It was frightening yet exhilarating at the same time.

This was Guhonda, the biggest - and at 36 years old - the oldest silverback in the Virunga Mountains, home to this endangered species.

The cost of assisted living communities in North America vary by city, but there are places where retirement living is a fraction of the cost as it is in the United States and Canada.

The Snow Hotel in the Arctic town of Kirkenes, located at the top of the world close to the Russian border, is one of a very few hotels in the world completely built of snow. Guests who spend a night in one of the frigid, beautifully decorated rooms, are treated to a truly unique experience. Most are amazed to find that, although their beds are made of ice, they are never cold. My nose was a rosy red and the boots beside my bed were a bit frosty but my arctic sleeping bag kept me warm.

Norway's breathtaking coastline has often been rated as the best destination in the world.The fjords of Norway are among the worlds longest and deepest and offer up-close and ever-changing views of spectacular scenery all along the way. Hurtigruten will give you an opportunity to see the best of this amazing coast. The fleet of eleven Hurtigruten ships sails up and down this beautiful coastline throughout the year between the cities, towns and hamlets on the shore, carrying locals and tourists from around the world.

This summer, a group of 55 adults—some just out of college, others long since retired—will gather at the University of Virginia for a weeklong symposium on Thomas Jefferson. They will live in dormitory rooms that Jefferson designed in 1819, take a private, after-hours tour of Monticello, and participate in discussions led by some of the most distinguished Jefferson scholars in the nation on his relationship with such figures as John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison.

From: Janelle Spence's Travel Chatter for mature travellers

This issue is from Peter Finch in our office, who has just recently taken his family on a round world holiday for four weeks, and would like to share his experiences on different aspects of his travels. Peter writes ...