First-foot remote Madagascar

Pioneer Expeditions will certainly be living up to its name this year, with a never-before-attempted stomp into the remote parts of Madagascar and first organised descent of the Matsiatra river plus a four-day trek inside the isolated Makay canyons. The 18-night trip finishes off at a luxurious resort on the Mozambique Channel.

· 0845 0047 801, pioneerexpeditions.com. Departs May, £2,450pp excluding flights.

Pacify elephants in Namibia

Fancy yourself as a bit of a diplomat? Then help settle an almighty feud between the farmers of Damaraland and the pesky local elephants, which have returned to the region after 60 years of wandering. The group will help build protective walls around the communities, visit the Cape Cross seal colony, Etosha national park and the Waterberg plateau, and learn how say "Leave it mate, it's not worth it" using only their nose.

· 0844 499 0901, explore.co.uk/specialinterest. Departs June 13 and September 5, £2,570pp.

Peru beyond Picchu

An eight-day trip through the Vilacamba range to the roll-off-the-tongue Terijuay glacier and Yanacocha Lagoon between May and October, finishing off with a well-earned dip in the hot springs at Lares before returning to the Sacred Valley of Cuzco.

· 020-7384 2332, cazloyd.com. From £2,785pp including accommodation and flights.

All of Ecuador

With tropical islands, snow-capped peaks, cloud forests, sandy beaches and dense jungle ... Wild Frontiers has a 14-day trip with all of the above this February, including a ride along the Nariz del Diablo (Devil's Nose) trans-Andean railroad, a drive along "the avenue of the volcanoes" and an optional extension to the Galapagos Islands.

· 020-7736 3968, wildfrontiers.co.uk. February 9-24, from £1,650pp full board including domestic but not international flights and transport.

Chinese eclipse

See this year's total solar eclipse from the snow-capped mountain setting of Hami in western China - where the very best weather prospects for the eclipse are expected - with Exodus Travel. The 18-day trip also includes visits to the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tibetan monasteries in the Xinjiang Uygur province, and the Yellow river.

· 0870 240 5550, exodus.co.uk. Departs July 18, £2,149pp including flights, sleeper trains and most meals.