‘Life,’ wrote gonzo journalist Hunter S Thompson, ‘should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming “Wow! What a Ride!”’

However you get your kicks, saying yes to adventure is a good way to start. This issue we head out on journeys we hope will inspire. We suggest you dust off your chaps and set off on a ranching holiday, where you can saddle up and let your busy mind be distracted by nature in all its wonderful forms as you hack out through a breathtaking landscape containing a myriad of creatures. Or for ultimate wilderness, journey like our contributor Simon de Burton to one of the most isolated parts of undiscovered Mongolia, on a motorcycle, and face the many challenges of hard-core off-road biking. Back in Europe, as the best winter in the Alps for years has opened up the choice of destination for a late-season ski trip, our skiing expert recommends the places to go that don’t need to be high-altitude concrete jungles, plus we select eight great trips – from hiking in Sweden to one of the world’s greatest train rides, across Mexico, to whet the appetite for an epic journey.

Elsewhere, we take stock of some unmissable art exhibitions coming to the capital this season, including photographs from the Sir Elton John collection – regarded as one of the world’s finest – at the V&A, to late Caravaggio at the National Gallery, while we hitch a ride in Polestar’s new EV, which comes with impressive sustainability creds, design surprises – and a soupçon of cool.

This spring, feed your imagination for the great escape, be it for a real skid in a cloud of smoke, or a more sedentary armchair travel dream. We hope you enjoy this issue.