Gorilla trekking permit numbers are restricted in the Rwanda's national parks to protect the animals in their natural habitat. In the Volcanoes National Park, for instance, there are ten mountain gorilla groups and each group can only have one group of eight people visiting a day for only one hour. Therefore it is necessary for gorilla passes to be booked months ahead of the actual tracking date. Kudu Travel offers a 13-night gorilla trekking tour from 5 to 18 January 2017 from £6,890 per person, including accommodation, meals and tours.
Inca Trail permits are released in January for the whole year and the first departure in 2017 is in March. It's crucial to book at least six months in advance as the permits seem to sell out faster each year - for instance, in 2016 all permits for the entire month of May sold out on the very day they went on sale. Exodus Travel offers a 16-day Inca Trail trip from £1,949 per person, including flights, accommodation and some meals, with the first departure on 15 March 2017.
- Tuscany is always popular and one-bedroom villas with private pools sell out the fastest, with May and June as popular as the summer months. Snap up To Tuscany's romantic retreat Capanna di Camporata before it's gone. The one-bedroom cottage for two with a private pool is a detached property within walking distance of Gaiole. It has been lovingly restored to bring out the beauty of traditional features such as the terracotta-tiled ceilings and costs from £580 to £1,092 per week.
- As spaces are limited, early booking is essential if you want to watch one of nature's most spectacular marine wildlife events. Between late February and late April each year, majestic orcas congregate near the shores of Punta Norte on Argentina’s Valdes Peninsula to hunt sea lion pups. The whales surf in on the high-tides and almost beach themselves in a dramatic attempt to catch their prey, creating an incredible sight that very few have a chance to witness. Wildfoot has just eight spaces on its eight-day Unique Patagonia Orca Photo Safari which costs from £2,790 per person, including accommodation, permits and a guide.
If you are an Italophile, you will know that the best time to holiday on the Amalfi Coast is May and June, rather than in July and August, but with a limited number of seafront hotels available, you still have to be quick if you are after a room with a view on this gorgeous stretch of coastline. Bookings for the smaller boutique hotels, which are popular with honeymooners, start to roll in at least one year ahead. ExpertoItaly offers stays at the stylish Maison La Minervetta from £490 per person for a three-night stay. The hotel has just 12 rooms, each with dramatic views over the Neapolitan Gulf.
- Having fun is a big part of Thai culture and from 13 to 15 April the entire country goes crazy in friendly water fights and street parties for Songkran Festival, one of the most popular dates in the Thai calendar. Songkran is becoming increasingly popular with tourists and a tour of the country at this time is one of the best ways to explore cultural Thailand. On The Go Tours offers a ten-day Songkran Festival Tour from £979 per person, including accommodation, some meals and excursions, departing 8 April 2017.
Very few cruise lines sail to the Galapagos Islands and with the destination being so popular, sailings are almost sold out for 2017 so now is the time to book. As one of the world’s most famous wildlife-watching destinations, the islands allow visitors to spot penguins, sea lions, marine iguanas, albatrosses and the giant Galapagos tortoises. You can join Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Xpedition on an 11-night Galapagos Inner Loop fly/cruise from £4,159 per person, including flights from Heathrow on 5 October 2017.
- One of the most sought-after holidays on the planet, witnessing Japan during the cherry blossom season is a bucket list experience for many. The ‘Sakura’ season is always a busy travel period and travellers need to book early to see the blossoms in Kyoto or other famous viewing spots such as Kanazawa. The season only lasts from the last week of March through to the middle of April and accommodation and places on tours fill up early. Gane and Marshall offers a 13-night Classic Japan from £2,325 per person to coincide with the cherry blossom season, including accommodation, some meals and tours.
- If it's a truly unique holiday you're after, you'll need to book fast. North Korea is top of the list for many adventure travellers but guided tours sell out fast. Secret Compass says its first trip sold out in about a week. Its 12-night holiday costs from £3,099 including a guide, accommodation and meals. It takes in the national parks and includes an attempt to camp out, something that is hardly ever done in the county. The group is also small, with just 12 people.