Here are the hottest (and coolest) events around the world to put into your diary this spring

APRIL

1 – 8 ARCTIC CIRCLE RACE, Greenland

Looking for the ultimate mental and physical challenge? Eight days of arduous cross-country skiing across the barren, snow-covered wilds of Greenland will undoubtedly test your talents. The 160km Arctic Circle Race is now in its 12th year, and is one of the world’s most challenging races, testing participants to the limit in the most extreme conditions. www.acr.gl

3 – 10 BASELWORLD, Basel, Switzerland

In early April Basel welcomes in the cream of the world’s jewellers and watch companies for the planet’s biggest industry show, open to the public. This is where companies like Rolex, Tag Heuer and Zenith show off their latest models for the next year, and jewellers exhibit their latest ranges. The show is a must for trend-spotters and serious collectors, but beware two things: first, the Richemont brands (Cartier, Jaeger LeCoultre, IWC etc) don’t show here; and secondly, it’s primarily a trade show, so don’t expect to just rock up and be treated like a king. www.baselworld.com

Late April WORLD FASHION WEEK:

Kodak Theatre, Los Angeles, US Forget Paris, Milan, London and New York. From 2009, you can be privy to fashion from across the world as it parades down one catwalk. The event: World Fashion Week, an annual bash hosted by a different country each year. This April a taster event will be held in LA, and 41 countries are set to participate. Each designer will donate a piece from their collection to be auctioned off after the show, with proceeds going to United Nations Global Compact, which campaigns for human rights and fair practices in business. www.worldfashionawards.tv

MAY

1/5 – 31/10 SURFING THE ZAMBEZI GORGE, Victoria Falls, Zambia

If you’re an adrenaline junkie in search of the next buzz, bodysurfing the gorge below the Victoria Falls may just satisfy your itch. With nothing more than a lifejacket, wetsuit and body-board between you and the fearsome rapids, this Zambian adventure should fire up even the most daring thrill-seeker. The warm, dry weather of May makes it an ideal time to visit and the waves are in peak form for surfing – so be sure to get on board. www.afrizim.com

3 THE GREAT SAUNTER, Manhattan Island, US

An annual event on Manhattan Island, The Great Saunter is the perfect opportunity to get to know the Big Apple on foot. The 32-mile walk along the city’s shore, which leads through more than a dozen magnificent parks and passes some iconic landmarks, attracts people from across the globe. Not feeling very active? Break off from the trekking masses and meander to Fifth Avenue for a bit of window shopping. www.shorewalkers.org

3 – 4 BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB, London, UK

A group of Buena Vista Social Club stalwarts descend on London to remind us why we fell in love with Cuban music in the late 1990s. This unmissable concert promises to take guests on a musical excursion from the original club recordings through to the present day, and transport us to the heart of Havana’s clubs and dancehalls in the process. www.hammersmithapollo.net

27/5 – 2/6 THE MOSCOW WORLD FINE ART FAIR, Moscow, Russia

Now in its fifth year, the Moscow World Fine Art Fair is still a relative newcomer to the art scene, but it has been described as the most exclusive art fair in Eastern Europe and compared to TEFAF Maastricht and Paris’s Biennale des Antiquaires. It brings together gallery owners, antique dealers and jewellers from countries as diverse as Romania and Japan, in the most spectacular setting: the magnificent Manege, a stone’s throw from the Kremlin and Red Square. www.moscow-faf.com

Until 31/5 LITTLE BLACK DRESS, Brighton Museum & Art Gallery, Brighton, UK

It is universally known that the ‘LBD’ is a prominent feature of any woman’s wardrobe. The Brighton Museum & Art Gallery is paying homage to the iconic fashion staple in an exhibition that charts its history from the 1920s to the present day, with contributions from designers such as John Galliano, Ben de Lisi and Amanda Wakeley. www.brighton.virtualmuseum.info

JUNE

From 1/6 LINNA GOLF, Hämeenlinna, Finland

Golfing aficionados might want to make Linna Golf their next course to conquer. Finland’s latest member of the PGA European Tour Courses Group has brought a whole new dimension to the game by taking advantage of the region’s 24-hour daylight in mid summer. From June, the resort will offer players the unique experience of midnight golf and teeing-off around the clock. www.golfpiste.com/linnagolf

6 – 8 MONTREAL GRAND PRIX, Montreal, Canada

If there was any year to catch the action on the Canadian track this is it. This year, Montreal’s legendary Circuit Gilles Villeneuve celebrates its 30th anniversary. For those of you not in the know, Montreal Grand Prix is one of the most exciting races, as well as one of the most demanding tracks on the F1 calendar. Be sure to work your connections and get an invite to Guy Laliberté’s (Cirque du Soleil founder) legendary four-day Grand Prix bash. www.grandprix.ca

Black Tomato is a specialist bespoke travel company; +44 (0)20 7610 9008 www.blacktomato.co.uk