Top 10 unusual trips to book in June

Have dinner with a local family to find out about their lives in a special hidden part of Europe - the breakaway state of Trans-Dniester. Arriving in Tiraspol, the capital, is like being immersed in a Soviet time capsule packed with imposing buildings, war memorials and of course a statue of Lenin. With their own government, postal service and independence day, you'll be captivated by the story of this unique and charming country.

Getting up at the crack of dawn to drive out to the Atacama Desert, all wrapped up against the bitter morning chill, is a real “why am I doing this again?!” moment. But watching the geysers steam and bubble while the sun rises behind them is worth all of the hardship. Such a beautiful sight, and all taken in with a hot drink and picnic breakfast in the world's highest desert.

Cruising down the Gambia River offers a real break from reality and encourages mindfulness, with only the water and the birds as a soundtrack. The landscape constantly changes, from tropical forest bamboo groves to rice paddies and mangroves, an ideal place for a diversity of bird life. After the day is over, marvel at the calm silence with occasional animal calls under a veil of dazzling stars above.

On a hilltop above the hustle and bustle of Chichicastenango, one of the world’s largest indigenous craft markets, lies the Mayan shrine of Pascual Abaj. The path here is hidden between private properties and  pine trees. At the top, the Maya people revere the earth god, and make offerings of cigarettes, flowers, alcohol and incense to encourage the fertility of their land. Seeing these ancient Maya traditions still alive in Guatemala is a world away from the hectic buzz of the 'chicken buses' and frantic sellers down in the market below.

Like a mythical land in a fantasy novel, the former salt mine in Salina Turda has been turned into an underground amusement park, complete with Ferris wheel and underground lake to explore. The cavernous landscape is transformed into a fairy grotto with bright colourful lights guiding you between the attractions on the walkways, their reflections twinkling in the water.