Travel Agenda: where to go and what to know in travel this week

From discounted tourist attractions to new travel apps and top spots to stargaze

Sail down the Amazon on Aqua Expeditions' new ship

Hit the roof

Melbourne’s new rooftop caravan park will open for the Aussie summer, later this year. Perched on a rooftop on trendy Flinders Lane, Notel will have six Airstream trailers (complete with lowered floors to accommodate tall people), while communal spaces will be decorated with street art. The entrance through a speakeasy-style door. Prices start at A$320 (£164) for a trailer with queen-sized bed, couch, TV and bathroom. notelmelbourne.com.au

Back to nature

UK Nature Breaks is a new website aimed at holidaymakers who wish to get close to nature. Launched in association with the RSPB, it features properties from Cottages.com and Hoseasons, including cottages, lodges and log cabins, as well as boating holidays. Ten per cent of the accommodation cost will go to the RSPB. uknaturebreaks.co.uk

The Chapel in Kilnsey offers access to the landscapes and wildlife of the Yorkshire Dales

Take a hike

A new section of the White Trail, a long-distance hiking route from Slovenia to Albania, opened last week. The new 1,200-mile Via Dinarica takes walkers through the Dinaric Alps and Blidinje Nature Park in Bosnia and Herzegovina. viadinarica.com

Main attraction

Where Pass London is a new contactless Visa debit card that offers discounted access to attractions in the capital, such as St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye. Like other contactless cards, it can also be used on London’s transport system, but it also comes with a visitor map, pocket guide book and suggested itineraries according to budget. wherepasslondon.com

Where Pass offers discounts on many of London's top attractions

Float your boat

Aqua Expeditions will launch its third vessel, the Aqua Amazon, in December 2017 to sail on Peru’s Amazon River. The new ship will be similar to the existing Aqua Mekong, with 20 suites, a spa, gym, pool and a fleet of four customised tenders for daily explorations. Itineraries will include visits to Amazonian communities and remote areas of the reserve, led by expert naturalist guides. Three-night cruises will start from £2,500 per person. aquaexpeditions.com

Home from home

Shakti Ladakh has just opened the River House, a four-bedroom property on the banks of the Indus River in India’s Jammu and Kashmir region. The house is ideal for large families or groups of friends who wish to explore the area, and offers views over the Stakna, Matho and Thiksey monasteries as well as the snowy peaks of the Stok Kangri mountain range. Visitors can participate in activities such as yoga, meditation, camping and hiking. shaktihimalaya.com


 The River House offers views of the Stok Kangri mountain range in India

Passenger duties

A new app, btrfly, allows travellers to connect with like-minded people at the airport. Users can input their flight details and access a list of other people on the same flight or at the airport at the same time, and get in touch to meet them for a coffee or to share a cab. The app also provides a direct message feature and a live newsfeed with user-generated content such as real-time information about security line delays. btrfly.net

Sky at night

Dead Horse Point State Park in south-west Utah was recently designated an International Dark Sky Park thanks to its clear night skies and commitment to educating stargazers. Each month, Night Sky Rangers present public programmes, and visitors can also join ranger-led sky-watching excursions. stateparks.utah.gov

Stargazing at Dead Horse Point