Explore Greece, Bali, Spain or Japan – here’s how to get there

Some travelers are wonderful planners. I meet them in airports and on airplanes. They talk about the trips they have scheduled two or three years in the future: the river cruises and the Scottish walkabouts. Sometimes it's essential to plan that far in advance. But I'm working on where to go later this month. Then there are a couple of trips for the fall and winter. Here are some suggestions, which I've tried to tie in with good airfares.

Destination: Japan

I plead ignorance about this destination, even though I drive a Honda. My major interest in Japan is cultural, but there are plenty of natural wonders to explore. The shrines, the temples, the gardens and the traditions of this island nation are compelling. A friend of mine who grew up in Tokyo used to take kids over to climb Mount Fuji. Then there are the very fast trains. The Japan National Tourism Organization has a comprehensive website on what to see and do.

Getting there: The fastest way is to fly to Seattle, then go nonstop to Tokyo. That costs between $1,100 and $1,300 round trip. But that's more expensive than going through Honolulu. Fly Alaska Air for $435 round trip next month (or use 35,000 miles). Then, take Air Asia and fly nonstop to Osaka for as little as $450 round trip (departing on Sept. 11).

Destination: Bali

This Indonesian island stands alone as a Hindu enclave in a Muslim nation. The island is known the world over as a much-desired getaway. Whether you're there to check out the arts and culture or to relax on the beach, this is a popular destination. It caught my eye because Katey Inman of Anchorage Yoga is leading a retreat in January. Last January, Katey took a group to Goa, just south of Mumbai, India. She's also arranged for yoga retreats to Central America — and to remote locations around Alaska.

The Bali trip starts on Jan. 18 with seven days at the Floating Leaf Resort and four days in the mountains near Ubud at Soulshine. The package price of $3,395 per person includes daily yoga classes, meals, airport transfers, planned activities and Wi-Fi. Airfare between Anchorage and Bali is not included.

Getting there: If I were going to this retreat, I would fly to Honolulu on Alaska Air, then take Air Asia to Osaka and continue to Kuala Lumpur. The cost on Air Asia for those dates is $720 round trip. It's less than $100 to fly between Kuala Lumpur and Bali.

Destination: Greece

The closest I've been been to Greece was on a recent trip to Sicily. Even though it's technically part of Italy, Sicily was ruled by Greeks for centuries. But recent reports from several Alaskans piqued my interest to visit Athens, Crete, Corfu and other iconic destinations. For some basic information, check out the Greek National Tourism Organization site.

Getting there. OK. This is sort of a mileage run, but it's a really good deal. First, fly Alaska Air to Newark. Actually, you can fly to any one of New York's three airports (Kennedy, LaGuardia or Newark) for between $510 and $550 round trip, since the flights don't match up very well to Emirates' nonstop to Athens. So, add a mini-trip to New York as well. Walk on the High Line, an elevated park repurposed from train tracks. Go see a Broadway show.

[From volcanoes to cathedrals, explore the world – one UNESCO site at a time]

To get from New York to Athens, fly nonstop on Emirates. The flight leaves Newark's Liberty Airport each evening just before midnight. Prices start at $587 round trip. You'll earn 4,930 Alaska Airlines miles on the route (50 percent of the actual miles flown).

Destination: El Camino de Santiago (Spain)

"The Way of Saint James" is a popular pilgrimage that ends in Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain. In my three trips to Spain, I've encountered numerous pilgrims. Depending on the route they choose (there are several), they're walking from 5 miles to 20 miles a day. Whether you're walking for spiritual reasons or just to explore the beautiful countryside, there are several companies set up to help you plan your journey. My niece just returned from an 18-day trek with her dad. She planned the trip with Camino Ways, which assisted with itinerary planning, accommodations and luggage. There are many options for pilgrims. Some opt to carry everything without any set itinerary. Others, including my niece, opted for a planned itinerary with pre-booked hotels, including breakfast and dinner each day. The luggage service meant that they could hike with just a day pack and hiking poles. This, of course, is what modern pilgrims do! The cost was about 70 euros per person per day. My niece, Sarah Sprague, was very happy with Camino Ways' booking procedure, including hotels/inns in the small towns along the way. "They were as clean and comfortable as the little towns could offer. The distances were just right for us and they sent us a packet with directions and walking notes," she said.

Getting there. The most popular "way" for pilgrims is the "French Way," which starts just across the border from Spain in the Pyrenees Mountains, at Saint Jean Pied de Port. This is Basque country. But, as you get into the planning stage, you discover you can start and stop at many places along the way, logging your "official" progress in stages. I'd fly into Barcelona and take a bus. But that's because I love Barcelona. Fly Alaska Airlines to Oakland, then take Norwegian's nonstop to Barcelona. In October, it costs $219 one way.

Destination: Greenland

It's time to do an exploratory trip to this wild place. Icelandair's nonstop service from Anchorage to Reykjavik has afforded me some great views from 37,000 feet. Now it's time to get boots on the ground. At last year's Adventure Travel summit, I met Bo and Anette Lings of the Hotel Sisimiut, along the northwestern coast. Sisimiut is Greenland's second-largest community, with about 5,500 people. The hotel is a hub for activities in the area, including snowmachine tours, fishing expeditions, sightseeing cruises and hiking.

Getting there: Take Icelandair to Reykjavik. The nonstop flights from Anchorage end in September. After that, fly to Seattle or Portland and pick up Icelandair. You'll earn Alaska Airlines miles along the way.

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Take some time in Iceland. Soak in the Blue Lagoon. Then, fly from Reykjavik to Sisimiut on Air Greenland. The cost in September is about $800 each way.

There are other destinations in Greenland, including the largest city, Nuuk. Also, there are day trips available from Iceland to the eastern coast of Greenland. This is a very remote area — and it's on the cutting edge of adventure travel. Accordingly, it's not cheap, but it's not crowded, either!

In addition to these far-flung destinations, there are a handful of incredible trips throughout Alaska. But get your passport ready for some serious adventure in the months ahead!

Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others. Contact him by email at zoom907@me.com. You can follow him on Twitter (@alaskatravelGRM) and alaskatravelgram.com. For more information, visit alaskatravelgram.com/about.