November: Break the ice, on an Antarctic adventure cruise

Where to go, what to do in 2011

The destination

Quito (quito.com.ec) rounds off its year as American Culture Capital with a bang. It has enjoyed $250m (£162m) in investment and its historic centre is the largest and best preserved in the Americas.

Events include the Fiestas de Quito (26 November to 6 December) with Latino artists such as Willie Colon (salsa) and Calle 13 (reggaeton-hiphop).

The route

Virgin Atlantic expands its flights to the Caribbean, adding a Saturday service to its Gatwick-Havana route and more flights to Tobago, Grenada and Barbados.

The accommodation

The luxurious 24-villa private resort Song Saa opens in Cambodia, on Koh Ouen and Koh Bong, in the Koh Rong archipelago. Rooms from US$600 (£388) through Cazenove and Loyd (cazloyd.com).

The cultural attraction

Make sure you're at the Bolshoi's New Stage in Moscow (bolshoi.ru) on 24 November for the long-delayed Moscow premiere of Kenneth MacMillan's Manon. Its refurbishment is scheduled to finish by late October.

The great outdoors

Singapore's facelift continues apace this month with the opening of the first section of its mammoth Gardens By The Bay project (gardensbythebay.org .sg). This scheme aims to green 101 hectares of the city waterfront with tropical flowers and conservatories. A sort of equatorial Kew Gardens.

The family holiday

Blow away the winter blues with a nine-night Wildlife, Culture and Coast Adventure in north-eastern Sri Lanka. This Adventurous Families break, with Reef and Rainforest Tours (reefandrain forest.co.uk), takes in snorkelling, safari trips and the chance to visit the famous Elephant Orphanage at Pinnawela. From £1,696 per adult, £997 per child.

The adventure

Travel to Antarctica on an expedition cruise and follow in the footsteps of the likes of Scott and Shackleton as your converted icebreaker carries you south around the remotest islands on the planet. Kayak among the icebergs and encounter Antarctic wildlife on this 12-day voyage of discovery with the Adventure Company (adventurecompany.co.uk). From £4,130.

The winter sports

The biggest ski lift infrastructure project for next winter looks likely to be the long-awaited connection of Italy's Madonna di Campiglio (campiglio.to) to its neighbour Pinzolo. A new gondola and several new pistes, including a black run, complete the 90-mile circuit.

All prices are per person, based on two sharing, unless otherwise stated. Hotel room prices are per room per night, unless otherwise stated