7 days
One week adventure.
How far can you go in one week?
Seven days is where your options really start to open up.
With a full week, you can look beyond the classic European city break and take on bigger experiences, different landscapes and destinations that feel a world away.
Some of the destinations below involve a long flight from Europe, but I’ve chosen them deliberately. For a full-time traveller with limited annual leave, time-zone changes matter almost as much as flight time. These destinations offer relatively manageable time differences from Europe, meaning you can spend less of your precious holiday recovering from jet lag and more time exploring.
Japan is the exception. The journey is longer and the time difference is greater, but Tokyo and Kyoto are simply too good to leave off a one-week list if you’re prepared to make the most of your time.
This is a short list of some of our favourite options, rather than an exhaustive list. Think of it as inspiration for when you want to turn one week of annual leave into something that feels much bigger.
Which destination is right for your one-week adventure?
The best destinations for 7 days
Japan : Tokyo + Kyoto
Ancient traditions meets futuristic cities
Japan is the one destination on this list where the journey from Europe is a bigger commitment. But if Japan has been sitting on your Leave List for years, seven days can still give you an incredible first taste.
Split your time between the energy of Tokyo and the traditional streets, temples and gardens of Kyoto.
Perfect for: Culture, food, temples & unforgettable city life
Don’t miss: Shibuya · Asakusa · Fushimi Inari · Arashiyama · Gion
Why 7 days works: You won’t see everything Japan has to offer and that’s exactly why you shouldn’t try. Focusing on Tokyo and Kyoto gives you two completely different sides of the country while keeping the itinerary focused.
Turkey : Istanbul + Cappadocia
Ancient cities, rooftop views & otherworldly landscapes
Turkey gives you an extraordinary amount of variety in just one week. Start in Istanbul, exploring its mosques, markets and neighbourhoods before heading into the surreal landscapes of Cappadocia.
Perfect for: History, food, culture & adventure
Don’t miss: Hagia Sophia · Grand Bazaar · Bosphorus · Göreme · Cappadocia hot-air balloons
Why 7 days works: Istanbul and Cappadocia give you two completely different experiences without trying to cross the entire country. Spend several days in Istanbul before flying to Cappadocia for a few nights.
Egypt : Cairo + Luxor & the Nile
Ancient wonders & the world’s greatest river
Egypt is the kind of destination where even one week can feel like a serious adventure. Combine Cairo’s ancient wonders with Luxor and the temples along the Nile.
Perfect for: Ancient history, culture & adventure
Don’t miss: Pyramids of Giza · Egyptian Museum · Karnak Temple · Valley of the Kings · Nile
Why 7 days works: You can focus on Egypt’s most extraordinary highlights rather than attempting to cover the entire country. A carefully planned route between Cairo and Luxor gives you an incredible amount of history without excessive travelling.
Mauritius : Beaches + Black River Gorges
Tropical paradise with an adventurous side
Mauritius is more than a beautiful beach destination. Spend time exploring the island’s dramatic landscapes, waterfalls and mountains before slowing down beside the Indian Ocean.
Perfect for: Beaches, nature, hiking & adventure
Don’t miss: Black River Gorges · Chamarel · Le Morne · waterfalls · turquoise lagoons
Why 7 days works: Mauritius is compact enough to explore without constantly packing and unpacking. You can combine active days in the interior with time on the coast without turning the trip into a race.
Seychelles : Mahé + Praslin
Granite peaks, jungle trails & turquoise water
The Seychelles might look like a destination designed purely for relaxing on a beach, but there is plenty to explore beyond the sand. Combine Mahé’s mountains and beaches with Praslin’s lush landscapes and island atmosphere. Praslin is easily reached from Mahé by fast ferry or a short flight.
Perfect for: Beaches, nature, hiking & island adventures
Don’t miss: Mahé · Praslin · Vallée de Mai · Beau Vallon · island-hopping
Why 7 days works: Two islands give you enough variety without trying to see too much of the archipelago. Spend a few days on Mahé before crossing to Praslin and exploring the surrounding islands.
Kenya : Nairobi + Maasai Mara
Big skies, incredible wildlife & safari
A week is enough to experience one of Africa’s most iconic adventures. Start in Nairobi before heading into the Maasai Mara for several days of safari.
Perfect for: Wildlife, adventure & photography
Don’t miss: Nairobi · Maasai Mara · game drives · Maasai culture · African sunsets
Why 7 days works: You don’t need to cross Kenya to have an unforgettable safari. Focusing on Nairobi and the Maasai Mara keeps the itinerary manageable while giving you several days in the reserve.
South Africa : Cape Town + Safari
One city, one safari, two completely different worlds
South Africa is one of the most rewarding choices for a week because you can combine an incredible city with a genuine safari experience.
Perfect for: Food, nature, wildlife & adventure
Don’t miss: Table Mountain · Cape Peninsula · Cape Winelands · safari · African wildlife
Why 7 days works: Focus on Cape Town and one carefully chosen safari destination rather than trying to see the whole country. This gives you enough time to experience the city properly while still getting your safari fix.
Cape Verde : Sal + Boa Vista
Volcanic landscapes, endless beaches & island life
Cape Verde is an excellent option when you want something tropical and adventurous without the huge distances involved in exploring a large country.
Perfect for: Beaches, hiking, sunshine & island life
Don’t miss: Sal · Boa Vista · volcanic landscapes · desert beaches · local villages
Why 7 days works: Sal and Boa Vista offer very different landscapes while remaining relatively easy to combine. You can mix active days with time on some seriously beautiful beaches.
Jordan : Amman + Petra + Wadi Rum
Ancient wonders & desert adventures
Jordan is almost tailor-made for a one-week adventure. Explore the lively streets of Amman, walk through the ancient city of Petra and spend a night beneath the stars in Wadi Rum. Petra and Wadi Rum are two of the country’s defining experiences, and Jordan’s official tourism board highlights both alongside Amman as key destinations.
Perfect for: History, hiking, desert adventures & culture
Don’t miss: Amman · Petra · Wadi Rum · Dead Sea · desert camp
Why 7 days works: Jordan is compact enough to create a varied road-trip style itinerary without spending days crossing the country. Petra is around three hours from Amman by road, making it possible to combine the capital with the country’s southern highlights.
Oman : Muscat + desert + wadis
Desert landscapes, mountain roads & turquoise pools
Oman is one of those destinations that feels far more adventurous than its relatively straightforward itinerary suggests. Combine Muscat’s coastline and culture with dramatic mountains, desert landscapes and natural swimming pools.
Perfect for: Road trips, nature, adventure & culture
Don’t miss: Muscat · Wadi Shab · Wahiba Sands · Nizwa · Jebel Akhdar
Why 7 days works: A focused road trip through northern Oman gives you an extraordinary variety of landscapes without trying to cover the entire country.
How to make 7 days feel like more
Seven days gives you considerably more freedom, but you still don’t have time to waste.
Choose your adventure before your destination
Don’t start with a map and try to squeeze everything in. Decide what you want the trip to be about (safari, mountains, ancient history, beaches or culture) and build around that.
Keep it to two or three bases
Seven days is enough to move around, but not enough to change hotels every night. Two or three bases is usually the sweet spot.
Make the long flight worth it
If you’re going long-haul, don’t spend your week moving between five cities. Choose a focused itinerary that gives you a genuine experience of the destination.
Account for jet lag
Your first day won’t necessarily be your most productive. Give yourself a little breathing room after arriving, particularly when travelling east.
Don’t try to see the whole country
This is probably the most important rule. One incredible region is better than five rushed stops.
Got even more time?
Seven days can take you surprisingly far. But with 10 days of annual leave, the world opens up even further giving you time to combine more destinations, explore larger countries and take on bigger adventures.