WELCOME to a new world of travel

WELCOME to Tours for the World, we are your travel partner. Travel is not just a way to escape from daily life, but also a way to broaden your horizons, learn new things, and create unforgettable memories. We believe travel should be simple, that's why we help people explore the world in a hassle-free and enjoyable way. Working exclusively through travel agents, we build escorted tour packages from the ground up, ensuring everything from accommodations to actions and tours is included - making your trip a one-of-a-kind experience. To explore our packages, access our travel agent portal, or make a new booking/payment, please use the buttons below.

DESTINATIONS

TRAVEL STYLES

ABOUT CONTIKI

GET INSPIRED

1 (866) 266 8454

Group Of Youg Travelers On Gondolo In Venice Italy

SAVE $1,176

European Discovery Summer Trip

European Discovery

7 Countries

The one that uncovers Europe’s finest in just under 2 weeks, complete with Bavarian beer and gondola rides

LA To The Bay Trip

LA to the Bay

The one that breezes through California, National Parks & The Grand Canyon

Ireland Summer Trip

Ireland in a Week

2 Countries

The one that gives you a week long full Irish experience

Asian Adventure Trip

Asian Adventure

3 Countries

The one that covers Thailand, Cambodia and Laos in 2 weeks

Mexico Grande Trip

Mexico Grande

The one that goes from the glorious Chichen Itza to the Cancun coast on a magical 13-day Mexico tour

SAVE $1,338

Piazza Navona fountain in Rome, Piazza Navona fountain in Rome, Italy

Simply Italy

The one that gives you 15 days of pure Italian bliss

Egypt & The Nile Summer Trip

Egypt and the Nile

The one that brings you face to face with Pharaohs and world wonders in enigmatic Egypt

Southern Africa Safari Trip

Southern Africa Safari

4 Countries

The one that delivers a spectacular safari adventure through Africa featuring Cape Town, Victoria Falls and the breath-taking landscapes of Botswana and Namibia

VIEW ALL TRIPS

tours of the world

$200* fully flexible deposit

No change or cancelation fees*

Pay over time, interest free

24/7 support

Why Contiki?

couple walking towards pyramid

TRAVEL TOGETHER

Exclusively for 18-35 year olds

Nav About Buy With Conf 780X516px (1)

BOOK & GO

Stress free and flexible trips

couple sitting on beach chairs

UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

Hand-picked by our expert guides

group having food

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

By TreadRight

Committed to responsible travel

TOP 20 TRAVEL EXPERIENCES TO TRY BEFORE YOU’RE 35

FIND OUT MORE

Group Taking Selfie At Sunset

Your search for ""

How do I plan a trip around the world?

Where to begin? Do you want to see every single continent? Just one continent in great depth? Just one country in great depth? Travel is our favorite thing on the planet, but to plan a trip around the world involves many potential logistical headaches. That's why we make exploring the world easy, with food, accommodations and transport included in the cost of your trip.

How do you plan a world tour?

You do some research on the places you'd like to visit and how much time you'd like to see them all in, then you think about your budget. Traveling the world can be expensive, so it's good to prioritize stops you want to make and think about the best time of year to go.

How much does it cost to travel around the world?

There are many variables to consider for your around the world trip. When you go, where you go and what you do when you're there - no to mention transport, food and accommodations - can all add up to significant sums if you're looking to hop from continent to continent. It can cost around 4000 dollars per month to travel the world if you're really doing it on the cheap. That's why, with us, you get food, accommodations and transportation all included in the cost of your trip, so you can keep a lid on expenses.

How much is a round the world ticket?

A round the world ticket can range wildly, between $1500–$20,000 dollars depending on your flight's mileage, your route, whether you're flying economy or not, and the number of stopovers, though a simple two to four stop around the world ticket might cost as little as $1,500.

How much is a round the world trip?

It depends on where you want to go and what you want to do. The word is a big place, and there are many logistical challenges to overcome, including transport, food and accommodations. That's why our trips include all of this kind of stuff in the price, as well as unique experiences and a group of young explorers to share it all with.

Sonny Turner Amalfi Coast

25 of the best places to visit in Europe

By Laura Condrut

Male Looking Aver Mountains Of Peru

Here are the 10 best eco-tourism destinations in 2023 you need to know about

By Gabriella Chaudhri

Male Bungee Jumping In New Zealand

25 Best Adventure Vacations Around the World in 2023

By Charlie Fabre

Travel inspiration from six-two

Back To Top

About Contiki

six-two: Our Travel Magazine

Personal Security

Code of Conduct

Destinations

Request a Quote

Do not sell or share my personal information

Resources Hub

Download a Brochure

Join our Rep Program

Affiliates Hub

Brand Partnerships

Travel Insurance

Travel Updates

All trip prices are in   USD   $

Contiki is a proud part of TTC family of brands

© Copyright 2024 Contiki. All Rights Reserved. Contiki Holidays Limited, Travel House, Rue du Manoir St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2JH, Reg No: 50681

Legal Stuff

Privacy & Cookie Policy

Booking Conditions

  • The Maldives
  • South Africa
  • United Arab Emirates
  • Private Groups

Tours for the World

tours of the world

Popular Destinations

People can’t get enough of these epic destinations

Portugal (3)

Singapore (1), tanzania (5), groups (16).

Tour list image

About Paris, the City of Lights, the City of Love, a vibrant metropolis steeped in history, romance, and cultural allure. Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or embarking on your first European adventure, France, and particularly Paris, promises an unforgettable experience. This page serves as your gateway to planning your perfect Parisian escape, packed with essential

Tour list image

About Portugal boasts a rich and storied past, evident in its charming towns and cities. Explore the medieval castles of Sintra, wander through the cobblestone streets of Porto, or marvel at the opulent Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon. Portugal was also a maritime pioneer, and its Age of Discovery is celebrated in museums and monuments throughout

Tour list image

About Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country like no other. Spanning two continents, Europe and Asia, it bridges cultures and landscapes with dazzling ease. From the snow-capped peaks of Mount Ararat to the sun-drenched shores of the Aegean and Mediterranean, Turkey offers a kaleidoscope of experiences for the intrepid traveler. History buffs

Tour list image

About Singapore is an island city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. It is known for its blend of Chinese, Malay, and Indian cultures, as well as its modern architecture and vibrant nightlife. Visitors to Singapore can enjoy a variety of activities, including sightseeing, shopping, dining, and nightlife. Some of the most popular

Tour list image

About Tanzania, a land of breathtaking landscapes and vibrant cultures, beckons the adventurous traveler. Home to the iconic Serengeti National Park and the majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, it’s a place where the wild roams freely and the sky-touching peaks challenge the human spirit. Immerse yourself in the rich heritage of its diverse tribes, from the Maasai

Tour list image

See the world together Embark on a remarkable journey with our Group Travel Packages, designed to create incredible memories and foster lifelong connections. With a minimum of 15 travelers, these fully escorted land packages offer a unique opportunity to explore the world alongside like-minded explorers. Imagine immersing yourself in the captivating landscapes of distant lands,

Featured Tours

Some popular picks

Tour list image

10 Adventures

Tour list image

A Journey Through Time | Jordan

Tour list image

A Mediterranean Odyssey | Spain + Italy

Tour list image

African Heritage and Cultural Homecoming Tour

Tour list image

AfroFuture Escapade: Heritage Exploration in Accra & Cape Coast

Tour list image

Amazing Peru

Why travel with tftw.

tours of the world

Our packages put you in the middle of the top events and destinations

tours of the world

The Right mix

We balance the trip with the right mix of culture, fun, and free time

tours of the world

We ensure the safety and security of all our customers

See the world This Summer

Tour list image

Royal Experience in Paris

Tour list image

The Best of Paris

Tour list image

Discover Paris

Madrid, barcelona, and paris.

Tour list image

Barcelona, Mallorca & Ibiza

Tour list image

Madrid & Barcelona

The best virtual tours to explore the world from home

Oct 8, 2020 • 5 min read

Ceiling of Sistine Chapel, Vatican City. Check permissions for this image

The Sistine Chapel is just one wonder offering a virtual museum tour ©Rajesh Gathwala/500px

We live in an age of unprecedented access to digital technology – and with it, brand new ways of exploring the world around us.

While it's not quite the same as seeing, say, the Mona Lisa or Christ the Redeemer in person, some of the world’s most popular and remote destinations have created libraries of online images and video, as well as 360 degree virtual tours that let you virtually explore museums, galleries, world wonders and even national parks.

Here a just a few of the best digital tours that let you wander the world from wherever you may be social distancing.

A woma nin a pink technical fabric top and matching pants and a black cap with a brim walks past the orange buildings and clay roofs of the Choijin Lama Museum in Ulan Bator with a green camera sphere from Google Street View strapped to her back

See the seven wonders of the world

If there’s anything capable of whetting your appetite for world travel, it is the new seven wonders of the world:  the Great Wall of China , the ancient city of Petra , the Taj Mahal , the Colosseum , Machu Picchu , Christ the Redeemer , and Chichen Itza . Thankfully there are impressive virtual tours of each from The New York Times , AirPano , Google , and Panoramas .

With modern technology, you can even see the last standing wonder of the ancient world— The Pyramids of Giza . There are a few other wonders that might not make it into to the top seven but are still worth a digital peek, like the Alhambra , Seville's La Giralda , and even Easter Island.

The Egyptian Antiquities room in the Lovure Museum is empty except for several statues of various sizes from Tanis, Karnak, and Thebes

Best virtual museum tours

In recent years, Google has partnered with over 2,5000 art museums to upload high-resolution versions of millions of pieces of art. Highlights include New York’s MoMA , DC’s National Gallery of Art , Chicago’s Art Institute , the Casa Battl ó, and Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum to name a few.

In addition, The Louvre offers a virtual tour , as do The Vatican Museums , many of the Smithsonian Museums , the Russian Museum , the top-rated British Museum , the Minneapolis  Museum of Russian Art , and the Palace Museum in Beijing.

You may not be able to kiss the Blarney Stone right now, but you can tour the Blarney Castle from afar. You can also visit the Museum of Flight,  the Museum of Science, the Museum of Natural History,  the National Women's History Museum  and Boston's History of Science Museum .

While museums are often an inherently visual experience, there's a lot to be learned from archives of past lectures and tours like the ones preserved online by Nashville's Frist Museum , the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the Smithsonian American Art Museum,  the Frick , and others.

You might also like:  Broadway might be closed, but here’s how to stream the best performances from your home

Turquoise Pool in Yellowstone National Park surrounded by a contrasting blanket of fresh white snow

Explore national parks

While travel to National Parks is best avoided for the time being, you don't need to miss out on the scenery. Virtual Yosemite is absolutely stunning and one of the best, replete with audio. Both Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore offer virtual tours as well. 

Google has similar 360 degree audio-visual tours of five select national parks, including Kenai Fjords, Hawai'i Volcanos , Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon , and Dry Tortugas, as well as 31 more on Google Earth . You can also get an up-close look at almost 4,000 pieces of artwork, artifacts, and other treasures related to the history and culture of the national parks, and view online exhibits .

A penguin looks at the viewer through the glass walls of a habitat at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tennessee

Digital safaris

Wildlife is a big draw for travelers, whether it's sighting some of the Big Five in Africa, glimpsing whales in North America, or introducing your children to new animals in person on a family safari . But if you're forays into the bush are grounded for now, many zoos and aquariums have created digital access to their habitats.

You can easily watch several live webcams of some of the nation’s greatest zoos and aquariums, including the  San Diego Zoo , Houston Zoo , Zoo Atlanta , the Tennessee Aquarium , and the Georgia Aquarium . Additionally you can see Canadian farm animals doing their thing , or you could watch Stella the Dog jump endlessly into huge piles of Maine leaves.

You may also like:  These nine wildlife web cams offer access to your favorite animals

A view overlooking the Wotans Throne feature at the Grand Canyon

Virtual hiking

Thanks to panoramic video, you can get a really good idea of what a hike looks like well before you arrive at the trailhead. For example, you can experience all of the following top-rated hikes right now from your computer or tablet:  Bryce Canyon , Grand Canyon , GR20 , Inca Trail , and the death-defying Angel's Landing . For even more great hikes, simply YouTube one of Lonely Planet’s top 10 treks or any other hike that suits your fancy. Bonus points if you follow along during a workout to enhance the realism.

Famous landmarks

You can visit many wonders of nature, including the Amazon Rainforest , Iguazu Falls , the Komodo Islands , or Table Mountain , using virtual tours. Or you can explore the Statue of Liberty , the Sahara Desert , Niagara Falls , or even a guided tour of the Eiffel Tower . For even more virtual tours, search your bucket list of adventures with  AirPano , Google Earth , or YouTube .

Astronatur Edwin E. Aldrin Jr. looks at the Lunar Module Pilot during the 1969 moon landing

Travel to outer space

The moon hasn't made it to Lonely Planet's Best In Travel list (yet!), and even without self-isolation and shelter-in-place measures for COVID-19, many of us may never travel to space. But thanks to technology, now is as good of a time as any to do so virtually. Before blasting off, considering touring some of NASA’s offices first. Then relive the last lunar missions and moon walks in stunning HD. Or take a virtual tour of Mars with the help of Google. 

You might also like:

Listen to the sounds of forests around the world Cook your way around the world with these travel-inspired kitchen essentials Rome watchlist: films to see before your trip

The novel coronavirus (Covid-19) is now a global pandemic. Find out what this  means for travelers . 

This article was originally published March 2020 and was last updated October 2020.

This article was first published March 2020 and updated October 2020

Explore related stories

A Dine boy rides his horse in the Navajo Nation in the southwestern United States

National Parks

Jun 14, 2022 • 8 min read

Here are 8 national parks where you can learn more about the history of the Native American peoples first-hand.

tours of the world

Mar 15, 2024 • 10 min read

1291824230

Mar 1, 2024 • 6 min read

tours of the world

Feb 27, 2024 • 6 min read

Tulum, Mexico. May 20, 2021.Beautiful towering wooden sculpture called "Ven a La Luz" welcomes guests onto the beach at Ahau Tulum in Mexico.; Shutterstock ID 1981632350; your: Ann Douglas Lott; gl: 65050; netsuite: Digital Content; full: Tulum beaches article refresh

Jan 24, 2024 • 7 min read

tours of the world

Dec 27, 2023 • 8 min read

Tourist contemplating the sea of clouds from above with infinity landscape.

Dec 3, 2023 • 6 min read

tours of the world

Nov 2, 2023 • 5 min read

A woman sitting near the main pyramid at Chichen Itza in Mexico

Oct 7, 2023 • 14 min read

Bryce-Canyon-2.jpg

Aug 15, 2023 • 6 min read

  • Tours  > 
  • Destinations  > 

Around the World Itineraries

Now you can find, compare, and share trips from 1,000+ operators and expert trip planners. Unlike most travel agencies and websites that only show options from large companies that pay big commissions, we show you all the options we can gather, and we’re adding more all the time. We want you to have all the available information to find your perfect trip, no matter who it’s with. Whether you’re looking for a short weekend getaway or a multi-country expedition, you can find it on Travelstride. About us.

Search thousands

...to foster a community connecting travelers to wonderful places, people, & experiences. Learn more.

Travelstride climate

Top Trips Around the World

Top Around the World Travel Packages

Around the world in 7-10 days.

Itineraries for going around the world usually spend a few days, usually more, in any given city. This is one of the great advantages to traveling for longer durations - the chance to spend more meaningful time in each stop along the way.

The shortest around the world tours tend to be no longer than a month, while the longest is upwards of 3 months.

See all Round-the-World packages  

Travelstride featured in

The Newyork Times

Unlock Community Benefits

  • Save favorite trips and itineraries
  • Get insider insights
  • Receive personalized recommendations ...and much more

Top Around the World Tours See all

tours of the world

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Top Around the World Attractions

Machu Picchu

Giza Pyramids

Galapagos Islands

New York City

Great Wall of China

Pacific Islands

United Kingdom

The Balkans

Top Activities in Around the World

High Adventure

Education & Learning

Wildlife Viewing

Around the World Tours Reviews & Ratings

Top around the world tour companies.

  • Intrepid Travel Reviews
  • G Adventures Reviews
  • Trovatrip Reviews
  • Road Scholar Reviews
  • National Geographic Expeditions Reviews
  • Outward Bound Reviews
  • Cunard Reviews
  • Bestway Tours & Safaris Reviews
  • Firebird Tours Reviews
  • Encounters Travel Reviews
  • Great Rail Journeys Reviews
  • World Travellers' Club Reviews
  • SmarTours Reviews
  • Madventure Reviews
  • Sahara Magic Tours Reviews
  • Vantage travel Reviews
  • Albatros Travel Reviews

Why Travelstride

Click to send a new magic link to your inbox.

Welcome back!

By signing in, you agree to our Privacy Policy  and  Terms of Use

  • Bookmark trips you like
  • Share with your travel companions
  • Track price changes
  • Access private discounts on trips you save

TripFinder is a member-only feature. Don’t worry, it’s free!

With a membership you:

  • Save up to $700 per person!*
  • Access private deals and offers
  • See personalized trip recommendations
  • Save favorite trips

Just use the email address and password provided in the email we sent.

With your free membership you:

logo

How to visit the 7 new wonders of the world on tour

Our planet is home to countless landmarks that boggle the mind with their staggering beauty, storied history, and groundbreaking engineering. But some of them are so special—and so emblematic of the historic periods, peoples, and advancements they represent—that they’ve been declared wonders of the world. The original wonders of the world list was compiled all the way back in the second century BCE. Of the seven sites on that list, only one— the Great Pyramids of Giza , in Egypt—still exists. But that doesn’t mean you’ve missed out entirely. Happily, a new wonders of the world list is serving up inspiration for travelers who want to experience such grandeur in person. So, what are the New Seven Wonders of the World? Read on to find out—and take advantage of our Black Friday travel deals to book tours that can get you to the ones you most want to see.

amazing natural wonders everyone should see in their lifetime​

Visit the wonders of the world on tour

tours of the world

4.7 out of 5 stars

tours of the world

4.5 out of 5 stars

tours of the world

4.8 out of 5 stars

tours of the world

4.6 out of 5 stars

tours of the world

  • Switzerland
  • New Zealand
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

tours of the world

Great Europe Getaway

20% off Europe tours

An adventure travel company you can trust

Unforgettable experiences.

From big wows to hidden gems, our tours leave you feeling that you've really explored.

Expert tour leaders

Chosen for their great knowledge of your destination and a passion to make your trip extraordinary.

Small groups

Average groups of 11; solos, couples and friends, united by a desire for authentic experiences.

Responsible at heart

How we operate sets us apart; our flexible booking policy, our loyalty scheme & sustainable approach.

We're B Corp certified!

tours of the world

Save 20% on over 100 adventures in Europe

tours of the world

12 Epic Europe Trips

The best tours for foodies, culture vultures, thrillseekers and wanderlusters

tours of the world

2025 dates on sale

Dates for next year now available on many tours

The adventure vacation experts

Making unforgettable adventures.

Average customer rating:

Independent service rating based on

Some of our favorite adventure vacations

Amalfi coast walking - agriturismo.

Feefo logo

Turkey in Depth

Feefo logo

Cycle the Dalmatian Coast

Feefo logo

Walking in Madeira

Feefo logo

Hiking in the Dolomites

Feefo logo

Highlights of Costa Rica

Feefo logo

Your wellbeing comes first

Our flexible booking and safety policies mean you're protected with us.

Explore Flex

Explore has always been known for its flexible booking conditions and since the Coronavirus pandemic, we've gone even further to ensure you can continue to book your next adventure with confidence.

48 Hours Around the World: The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Itinerary

Jennifer Prince is a Virginia-based freelance travel writer. She has her own wedding blog, Hill City Bride, and her work has appeared in publications such as CondeNast Traveler, and more.

tours of the world

Whether it’s due to finances, schedule, or perfecting your social distancing game, you may find yourself stuck at home with an insatiable desire to travel. Instead of bingeing on true crime documentaries or scrolling through Instagram yet again, consider taking a trip around the world. From Asia to Antarctica, follow our cerebral travel guide and whisk your thoughts away to someplace new.

Day 1: Morning

9 a.m.: There’s no better way to start a morning in Europe than with an easy-to-make British breakfast of crumpets. You may already have most of the ingredients on hand! Brew up a pot of tea and take it traditionally—with just a bit of milk—or feel free to add honey and lemon.

10 a.m.: Lift your pinky finger as you sip and settle in to take a virtual tour of Buckingham Palace. From the carpet in the White Drawing Room to the domed ceiling of the Grand Staircase, experience an up-close look at three rooms in the palace. To get a view of London’s outdoor attractions, peruse a gallery filled with 360-degree tours from vantage points like Picadilly Circus and the London Eye . Just be careful not to get dizzy as you scroll!

11 a.m.: Afterward, pour another cup of tea and travel north to Scotland where you can skim highlights such as castles, waterways, and landscapes via video . Don’t forget to swing across the sea to Ireland to explore a few sights and take a scenic coastal drive. Of course, while you are in Ireland, it’s customary to grab a pint, so do the next best thing. Drink a beer while imagining you are outside of a traditional Dublin pub .

Day 1: Afternoon

12 p.m.: The afternoon is an ideal time to head a bit further north to Scandinavia, and incorporate a bit of Norwegian cuisine into your lunch menu. Cook lamb or fish to transport yourself straight to Norway , and then relax on the couch to explore art in the churches of Sweden . Denmark holds treasures such as the Faroe Islands and Copenhagen, and you can get a current perspective of what’s happening in the country through various webcams .

2 p.m.: Grab a quick drink—we suggest a glass of Italian wine —as you settle in to explore more of what Western Europe has to offer. From here, the options are seemingly endless. The site of the European Travel Commission has interest-based tours, so it’s possible to cross off several countries at once. Explore castles , visit snow-capped mountains , and discover little-known wine regions through their online galleries and articles. You could spend hours traversing in Europe! Bonus: the site’s extensive recipe collection may inspire your next meal.

4 p.m.: Next on the list is Eastern Europe, which exudes culture. First, get the lay of the land by consulting a guide to the region , where you can hit the highlights of each country. If you want to delve a bit more into the area, pay a visit to Rick Steves’ website to watch TV episodes on Bulgaria , Romania , and Prague . You’ll experience a fascinating, in-depth look at the countries through his personal stories.

Day 1: Evening

6 p.m.: Now, it’s time to move around a bit—literally. Not only should you get up and burn some calories, but it’s easy to do so while you make dinner. Search for some African-inspired recipes using ingredients you may already have on hand. To make the experience a bit more authentic, jive to African tunes by searching artists such as Bongo Maffin, a South African kwaito music group, or Fatoumata Diawara, a Malian singer-songwriter.

8 p.m.: Africa is known for its rich fauna, so grab a blanket and get cozy to watch a few documentaries. Learn about the Serengeti and view a few up-close animal encounters caught while on safari. Afterward, see if you spy any wildlife in the African bush or view preserved webcam footage of adorable lion cubs . Later, take a quick climb up Mount Kilimanjaro . What an accomplishment to cross off of your bucket list!

10 p.m.: It may be getting late, but that’s no excuse to skip out on a quick trip to Antarctica . Head to the freezer and grab your favorite flavor of ice cream to get into the frigid spirit as you listen to an episode of AntArctic Stories , a podcast about daring polar expeditions. Before you go to sleep, watch a video about a couple that camped outside in the arctic snow. It will make you thankful to snuggle into your warm bed!

Day 2: Morning

9 a.m.: Start the day by making a hearty Australian breakfast—the fry-up. With just five ingredients (eggs, bacon, wheat bread, baked beans, and butter), it’s the perfect way to clear out the fridge. While you are in Australia , check out the live webcam of Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour Bridge. A trip to the continent wouldn’t be complete without cute footage of koalas. Get a live look at what these mammals are doing at the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary , although, don’t be disappointed if they are asleep.

10:30 a.m.: Next, it’s off to Asia. Tour Japanese gardens or sneak into North Korea through snippets of the BBC’s video footage. To avoid the real-life crowds at the Taj Mahal, hop over to YouTube to take a tour . If you have 28 minutes to spare, you can visit 21 places in Southeast Asia—including Palawan and the Philippines—and then take a peek at Hong Kong’s live webcam before you leave.

Day 2: Afternoon

12:30 p.m.: Mexican cuisine is often a favorite, so head off to visit Central and South America for lunch. You will need the sustenance for an afternoon of virtual touring, so cook tacos or enchiladas as you listen to traditional tunes . The mariachi music may put you in the mood to take a salsa break for some much-needed movement.

2 p.m.: After lunch, sit back, relax, and get ready to explore South America. Delve into the Amazon region through a documentary, and then follow up the serenity of the rainforest by popping into busy places like Santiago or Copacabana by webcam. End your time on the continent by exploring the sites or by taking a stunning aerial tour of Machu Picchu.

4 p.m.: Next, it’s time to go north to Central America. If you’re craving an afternoon snack, take time to test out the street food in Guatemala City or dig into the top seven places in Nicaragua . Then pop in your earbuds, close your eyes and listen to The Amateur Traveler chat about adventures in Costa Rica, such as ziplining and whitewater rafting.

Day 2: Evening

6 p.m.: After a full day and a half of circling the globe, it’s finally time to settle into North America . For dinner, order a pizza—that’s about as “United States” as it gets. Dine and learn about the U.S.'s neighbors to the north by watching " Being Canadian ." It is a lengthy but thoroughly entertaining documentary that peppers a bit of history with interviews of well-known Canadians.

8 p.m.: Give your eyes a rest and let your ears soak in a few episodes of the Extra Pack of Peanuts podcast. Topics such as the “throwdown showdown” Austin vs. Nashville or what to do in Philadelphia may inspire you to visit a new state. Then cross to the wild west to learn a bit about cattle farming and life on a Texas ranch . While you’re swinging through the south, familiarize yourself with a few of the region’s accents before you leave. The subtle differences will amaze you—and make you laugh.

10 p.m.: To relax for the night, grab a glass of California wine as you see check out the "nightlife" from the comfort of your couch. Watch a live webcam of Times Square , Philadelphia , or the streets of Los Angeles to feel like you are in the middle of it all. If you are in the mood for entertainment, take a quick trip to see snippets of 10 Las Vegas shows. Finally, finish off your trip by capping off the evening with sounds of the Native American flute and then drift sweetly off to sleep after two full days of exploring the world. 

48 Hours in Boston: The Perfect Itinerary

48 Hours in Belize: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in Marseille: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in Munich: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in the U.S. Virgin Islands: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in Brooklyn: The Perfect Itinerary

72 Hours in Los Cabos: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in Macao: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in Philadelphia: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in Tokyo: The Perfect Itinerary

48 Hours in Havana: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in Los Angeles: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in Casablanca: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in St. Louis: The Perfect Itinerary

48 Hours in Florence: The Ultimate Itinerary

48 Hours in Memphis: The Ultimate Itinerary

  • Destinations
  • Manage Booking

Tours and Destination

Experience the mesmerizing and unforgettable tours with beautiful memories with us

Best Fares Available on all Flights

Grab the best deals and lowest fares on every flight with us

All Category Hotels Available

Best deals available on each and every hotel, Experience the luxury and comfort with us

Tours of world

Best deals and offers.

Explore a different way to travel

We are the new and one of the leading startup in travel industry that will provide its customers with Holiday Packages, Visa Service , Flight Bookings, Hotel Bookings and Transportation Services. As our name suggests Tours Of World meaning that our company will provide you with all the tourist destinations and is the one stop travel solution for all its customers. Our main aim is to build strong relationship with customers and customer is our God. As a new startup company we will provide our clients with much better and affordable rates and better services all at on spot where there will no scope for any disappointment.

Top destinations

Jagannath puri, maa vaishno devi, uttarakhand, our visa services.

visas starting at 1,990*

The Best All Star Hotels

5 star hotels, luxury - deluxe king room, luxury - oberoi kolkata-inr 11,999/- oberoi mumbai-inr 12,999/- oberoi banglore-inr 13,999/- oberoi gurugram-inr 12,999/- oberoi new delhi-inr 13,999/-, taj corbett resort & spa, luxury - set on lush grounds within jim corbett national park, this polished resort between the kosi river and national highway 309 is 4 km from the scenic hilltop garjiya devi temple. airy rooms with a modern vibe feature rainfall showers, flat-screen tvs and free wi-fi, as well as minibars, sitting areas, and tea and coffeemaking facilities; some have river views. suites and cottages add living areas and/or terraces. room service is available 24/7., radisson jass shimla, luxury - set in the himalayas 1 km from christ church, this elegant, modern hotel is also 2 km from the hindu jakhoo temple and 3 km from shimla train station. warm rooms with sitting areas offer free wi-fi and flat-screens, plus minibars, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. upgraded rooms and suites add rainfall showers, whirlpool baths and/or separate living areas. room service is available. kids age 4 and under (2 per room) stay at no charge., the oberoi cecil,shimla, luxury - this landmark colonial-era hotel dating from 1884 and with views of the shimla valley is a 10-minute walk from simla railway station and 1 km from the mall road. the refined rooms and suites in classic colonial style have marble bathrooms and burmese teak floors, and are furnished with period antiques. amenities include free wi-fi, minibars and flat-screen tvs. suites add terraces and living rooms. both 24-hour butler service and 24-hour room service are offered., 4 star hotels, namah resort, luxury - set along the koshi river overlooking the mailani mountain range, this polished resort on a tranquil, leafy property is 10 km from wildlife spotting at jim corbett national park. upmarket rooms offer free wi-fi, flat-screen tvs, minibars and balconies; some provide river and/or mountain views. suites add living areas. room service is available 24/7. parking and breakfast are free. amenities include a chic restaurant with stone columns, floor-to-ceiling windows and river views, maulik mansion, luxury - cuddled by nature, nuzzled by animals, the maulik mansion hotel will be the tree-house in the jungle you always dreamed of. on the very periphery of the oldest wildlife sanctuary in india, we take pride in promising you one of the most memorable journeys of your life. come over and let us take you on a mysterious quest to discover nature’s secrets. amidst the calm greenery and lush scenery, the chirping of the birds is the only sound that will disturb you in your poetic isolation. at maulik mansion, you will be amazed to find the latest amenities in a remote place that is so far away from the modernity. an occasional roar of a lonely bengal tiger may shake you out of your reverie., lemon tree premier jim corbett, premium - hotel in corbett on the banks of river kosi, hidden amongst dense sal trees rests lemon tree premier, corbett, a stunning resort set in the lap of wilderness. strategically located just minutes from the durga devi and the dhangarhi (dhikala) gates of jim corbett national park, this 5 acre landscaped retreat offers alluring views of the shivallik foothills of the himalayan sub-belt and the verdant forest around it., gajraj trails resort & spa, luxury - welcome to the maginificient world of gajraj trail resort. one of the finest resort in jim corbett national park. gajraj trail resort is located in village dhela in perfect natural surroundings and the varied flora and fauna. come here and feel te nature in its purest form ever. spread over 9 acres with adjoining forest, greenery, chattering of birds and breathtaking roars of wild animals, gajraj trail resort is an ideal place to stay. our restaurant with trained chefs ensure high standard of taste and hygeine. during the day you can enjoy our library, relax in swimming pool or take a soothing spa experience. evening sitting on independednt porches gives opportunity for seeing the beautiful lit sky with stars., corbett tusker trail resorts & spa, luxury - set on leafy grounds with views of the surrounding fields and forest, this down-to-earth resort at the entrance to jim corbett national park is 9 km from ramnagar train station. the low-key rooms come with wi-fi access, flat-screen tvs, minifridges, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. upgraded rooms add private balconies with forest views. suites have separate living rooms. there are also cottages. room service is available 24/7., the forest vines, luxury - the forest vines, located amidst the pristine surrounding of the jim corbett national park, bestows you with the bliss of luxury and serenity. the resort allows getting lost in the essence of nature. with the finest lodging clubbed with exceptional dining and spa facilities, this resort enhances your holiday experience. delicious gourmets with a plethora of activities, we are ready to bring out excitement. cocooned in the lush green environment, diverse wildlife, the resort replenishes a luxurious getaway in the lap of nature., aahana resort wilderness, premium - set across low-rise brick buildings, this upscale resort on the outskirts of jim corbett national park is 8 km from ramnagar railway station. elegant rooms have balconies or patios, flat-screen tvs, minifridges and air-conditioning, as well as tea and coffeemaking facilities. the 1- and 2-bedroom suites add sitting areas, and a 4-bedroom cottage is also offered. kids under 5 stay for free., the manali inn, luxury - the manali inn is a luxury hotel in manali. the hotel is well equipped with the latest amenities that define the luxury hospitality. the manali inn offers a unique holiday experience and also has state-of-the-art banqueting facilities to help you host corporate and social events. the manali inn has a lively décor featuring paintings, classy furnishings and landscaped outdoors. at the manali inn hotel, we also offer accessibility features like online manali hotel bookings, guided sightseeing and tours, airport and bus stand pickup and drops and many more such facilities. that’s why we are ranked amongst the best hotels and hotels in manali, and our patrons keep coming back for the warm hospitality we offer., fern residency manali, premium - the fern residency, manali, your host in the lap of nature, is situated at a distance of about 3 km from the mall, away from the hustle and bustle of the town, and surrounded by nature. where nature awaits to reach out and touch you with the panoramic views of snow-capped peaks, green valley with a cascading water-stream, apple orchards and the majestic ‘hamta’ range and pass covered with sheets of snow, nearby. come, and experience soulful comfort in the peaceful eco-friendly ambiance of the fern residency, manali, and at the same time enjoy a holiday with a personalized experience, making guests want to come back again and again, golden tulip manali, premium - on leafy grounds offering views of the manaslu river, this informal hotel with a mountain backdrop is a 2-minute walk from the manali club house recreation centre, a 14-minute walk from manu temple and 2 km from the nh3 national highway. featuring river, mountain and/or garden views, the warmly decorated rooms come with free wi-fi and flat-screen tvs, as well as minibars, sitting areas, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. upgraded rooms add sofabeds. room service is available 24/7., ahr the rock manali, ashiana clarks inn shimla, luxury - ashiana clarks inn, shimla is committed to provide a world-class hotel experience, accessible to the value – conscious travellers all around the world with a vision of redefining what inns have come to mean in india, we are single – minded focused on providing luxurious services with tremendous quality. hotel location is perfect for leisure traveller’s,boasting 27 modern rooms and suites with luxurious amenities, the ashiana clarks inn, shimla is located at chotta shimla, just a few minutes’ drive from the railway station/bus stand and is surrounded by the beautiful view of shivalik mountains., shimla havens resort, premium - set in the himalayas, surrounded by forest, this upmarket resort is 3.4 km from summer hill railway station, 6 km from shimla and 7 km from jakhoo temple. the rustic-chic rooms feature complimentary wi-fi, flat-screen tvs, sofas and minibars, along with safes, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. most quarters offer mountain or valley views. butler service is available. kids age 4 and under stay free., snow valley resorts , shimla, premium - set in a mountain village, this unfussy hotel is 13 km from jakhoo, an ancient hindu temple, and 8 km from shopping on mall road. the simply furnished rooms provide flat-screen tvs and desks. upgraded rooms add sitting areas and/or mountain views. room service is offered., adivaha by leisure hotels, star luxury - located in dharamshala, 2.5 miles from hpca stadium, adivaha suits & cottages by leisure hotels provides accommodations with a restaurant, free private parking, a bar and a garden. among the facilities at this property are room service and a concierge service, along with free wifi throughout the property, 3 star hotels, la savanna resort, warning : trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/qaibq8q54t15/public_html/index.php on line 1472 &&cate= warning : trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/qaibq8q54t15/public_html/index.php on line 1472 "> warning : trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/qaibq8q54t15/public_html/index.php on line 1473 deluxe -, regenta resort tarika, hotel himgiri, hotel himalayan heights manali, sun park resort, manali grand, orchard greens resort, amara resort manali, maple retreat, woodville palace hotel shimla, warning : trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/qaibq8q54t15/public_html/index.php on line 1472 &&cate= warning : trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/qaibq8q54t15/public_html/index.php on line 1472 "> warning : trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/qaibq8q54t15/public_html/index.php on line 1473 premium -, the cedar grand hotel & spa, the zion,shimla, amora heavens resort, warning : trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/qaibq8q54t15/public_html/index.php on line 1472 &&cate= warning : trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/qaibq8q54t15/public_html/index.php on line 1472 "> warning : trying to access array offset on value of type null in /home/qaibq8q54t15/public_html/index.php on line 1473 luxury resort -, maulik mansion resort.

Flight Bookings, Hotel Bookings and Transportation Services. As our name suggests Tours Of World meaning that our company will provide you with all the tourist destinations and is the one stop travel solution for all its customers.

Information

  • Privacy policy

Useful Links

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Travel News
  • Travel Documents
  • 70423 09109
  • [email protected]
  • New Moti Nagar, New Delhi

More From Forbes

The 22 best places to travel around the world in 2022: where to go next.

  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to Linkedin

Where to travel in 2022? What are the best places to travel during Covid? Where should I travel next? These are the questions that everyone is asking now that international travel is coming back to life, thanks to the loosening of travel restrictions in many destinations around the world and a pent-up demand for all those far-flung vacations that were put on hold during the pandemic. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council , travel numbers will reach pre-pandemic levels in 2022, the CEO of Expedia predicts that this summer will be the busiest travel season ever and the airlines are encountering unparalleled demand.

Note: This story is from 2022. To read about the best places to travel right now, see “The 23 Best Places To Travel Around The World In 2023, Chosen By The Experts”

Every year, I round up the best places to visit. This year, in honor of Women’s History Month in March, I tapped into a handful of women travel experts and influencers to find out the destinations that they have on their radar around the globe for 2022. The choices for where to go in 2022 range from cutting-edge urban capitals to dreamy Caribbean islands to African destinations worthy of a bucket-list vacation.

Tanzania—one of the best places to travel in 2022.

One thing to remember, though: The world is still in a state of flux. So if you’re planning a trip anywhere these days, you should check travel restrictions for the destination you are hoping to visit and consider warnings from the State Department and the CDC . And even if you decide not to plan a trip right now, consider this your ultimate travel bucket list for 2022—and beyond.

Want to stay closer to home? For more ideas of where to travel in America, check out “The 22 Best Places To Travel In The U.S. In 2022.”

Best Travel Insurance Companies

Best covid-19 travel insurance plans, best places to travel in 2022: mexico.

Overlooking Mexico City.

Where to Go: Mexico City

Chosen By: Nneya Richards is a speaker and travel blogger at ’N A Perfect World , a curated intersection of travel, food, fashion and geopolitics inspired by the global-citizen lifestyle of the millennial. Nneya aims to empower young people, especially those of color, to travel, as she believes it is through exploring the world that we will bridge cultural gaps and misunderstandings.

Why: A long time destination for notable creatives like Joan Didion and Jack Kerouac, Mexico City is experiencing a resurgence on the travel scene in 2022 with in-the-know travelers flocking there for its vibrant food, art and nightlife. “Mexico City is the kind of place you visit once and immediately start planning how you’re going to relocate,” says Richards. “While Americans have continued going to Mexico during the pandemic, travel has been more escapism. People looked to get away from city life when they traveled. Nightlife, restaurants, theatre, the pulses of cities were shuttered. As the world re-emerges, Mexico City has this in spades.”

One of the best places to visit in the city, Bosque Chapultepec is undergoing a major renovation this year. “President Obrador is hoping to make it the biggest and largest cultural center in the world, adding an aquatic center, skate parks and updating the soccer fields,” says Richards.

When it comes to travel in Mexico City, Richards recommends taking a Xochimilco floating gardens tour . “You might think the colorful music and booze-filled rides through the canals of the Xochimilco floating gardens only attract tourists—but you’d be wrong,” she says. “When I posted on my insta-stories, friends from Mexico City replied, “Yes! That’s the way to do Mexico City!”

Also on her radar: a hot air balloon over the Teotihuacan pyramids and a Temazcal ritual performed by a shamana in your hotel. “Life in Mexico City seems to really be lived, composed of a series of once-in-a-lifetime experiences that become a way of living,” says Richards. “As a New Yorker, I get it. Bucket-list living.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: The Caribbean

A rooftop pool at the O2 Beach Club & Spa in Barbados.

Where to Go: Barbados

Chosen By: Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon, founder of Jet Set Sarah , where travel, fitness and style meet.

Why: “I love Barbados (I’m half Bajan),” says Greaves-Gabbadon. “I am looking forward to returning in 2022 to enjoy some familiar favorites (a fish cutter from Cuz's food truck on Pebbles Beach is definitely a priority) and new-to-me places such as the O2 Beach Club & Spa .”

The South Coast of Barbados is traditionally known for barefoot hotels, but now this gorgeous region is seeing a spike in luxe hotels and restaurants, including the Sea Breeze Beach House, Sandals Barbados and O2 Beach Club, where you'll find three pools (including one of the only rooftop pools on the island), six dining experiences, seven bars, a teen lounge and a spa with panoramic ocean views. The resort tapped Caribbean designer Michelle Leotaud to give 02 a true sense of place.

The South Coast’s culinary scene is buzzing, too. The open-air Worthing Square Food Garden is a new street food hall with live music and 20 pop-ups serving global flavors from sushi to jerk. Foodies can also head to new Buzo for pizza, Cocktail Kitchen for light bites or Champers for waterside dining. New cocktail bars include Tabú, Mimosa , Chill Bar & Café and Tiki Bar, which has amazing sunset views. Also not to be missed: the beachfront Barbados Boardwalk , with pools and stunning views of the open sea.

Grenada's Grand Anse Beach.

Where to Go: Grenada

Chosen By: Diane Bair (@dianebairtravel), travel writer and author of more than two dozen books on travel, outdoor adventure, and wildlife.

Why: “My goal is to eventually visit every island in the Caribbean, but darn you, Grenada! You keep enticing me back,” says Bair. “Snapshot moments—like paddling a clear kayak in an aqua lagoon while nibbling a local chocolate bar—sum up what is amazing about this three-island nation.”

Bair says she encounters something new and terrific on every visit. “Besides the burgeoning bean-to-bar chocolate business (five chocolate factories), Grenada’s food scene is a vibrant mashup of fresh seafood and aromatic, locally grown nutmeg and other spices,” says Bair. Dining hotspots include The Aquarium , La Luna and Rhodes Restaurant . “Any foodie worth the label should discover Grenadian specialties, like oildown (a breadfruit stew with meat and coconut milk) and lambie (conch),” she says. “Sample those, and more, at the Dodgy Dock at True Blue Bay Resort , which feels like a lively island version of a church supper.”

Grenada will celebrate Spicemas 2022 (Carnival) this August, a sure sign that festivities are revving up again. And ferry service is once again available to Grenada’s sister islands Carriacou and Petit Martinique. Besides stellar beaches (Carriacou’s Paradise Beach was recently named best in the Caribbean), Grenada claims bragging rights to the first underwater sculpture park in the world. “Recently renovated, the park features 82 life-size sculptures, modeled after local people. Snorkeling or diving alongside them is always a joy,” says Bair. “Waterfalls and rainforest also make this destination a slam-dunk for me.”

If you’re inclined to add to your time in paradise with some feel good deeds, Grenada’s newly launched Voluntourism initiative is something to check out. And more good news: “Grenada’s Simple Stays program highlights 16 affordable accommodations, making it easy for more travelers to experience this incredible island,” says Bair.

Nneya Richards in Martinique—one of the top travel destinations for 2022.

Where to Go: Martinique

Why: “Do you guys look at Rihanna’s Crop Over looks every year and promise that one year you’ll do a Carnival? If you’re not quite bold enough for a full-on Crop Over and want to ease into Carnival life, head down to Martinique,” says Richards.

“This beautiful island’s annual Carnival is the perfect place for you and your tribe to do your first Carnival, as it’s the only one that’s really participatory: there are no barriers separating the spectators and marchers,” she says. “Everyone is encouraged to participate and everyone does.”

Martinique was recently named the top emerging destination in the world by Tripadvisor—and it’s no wonder. Beyond Carnival, travelers will love exploring Martinique’s verdant mountains and spectacular white and black sand beaches. Some big news for the island: UNESCO recently named the entire island a World Biosphere Reserve (the second UNESCO distinction for the island). Another tip from Richards: “This year JetBlue has well priced flights there.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Canada

A panorama along Bow River Parkway in Alberta's Banff National Park.

Where to Go: Alberta, Canada

Chosen By: California Chaney, global travel writer, DJ, photographer and editor at Fathom . Follow along on her travels at @californiastarchaney or californiachaney.com

Why: Alberta holds wonder around every bend and corner, from the spectacular Canadian Rockies to the Badlands to the culturally rich cities. Perfect for travelers with passions for learning and the expansive outdoors, Alberta offers a wide variety of festivals and museums, rich and interactive history, exquisite provincial parks, delicious cuisine with small batch spirits and an impressive number of daylight hours to maximize time. In early July, the sun rises before 5:30 and sets close to 10 p.m.

Explore the newly expanded Metis Crossing , an interpretive destination offering immersive and authentic Indigenous Métis experiences. For city culture, the Edmonton Queer History Project has launched its new interactive website and walking tours that map 27 historically significant landmarks. For those who like to travel slow, Vacations By Rail has routes through the Rockies and the cities. “It’s the most spectacular way to truly experience the Rocky Mountains and unplug while taking the scenic route, winding through the mountains and valleys with luxury sleeper cars, dinner on board and cozy nooks to get lost in the passing scenery,” says Chaney.

For adrenaline, cycle the windy and scenic Bow Valley Parkway between Banff and Lake Louise. Chaney also recommends taking a river tour with Urban River Adventures , which “leads trips to the secluded islands in the North Saskatchewan River with overnights in geodesic glamping tents.” Dine in a 360° Dome , surrounded by panoramic views of the Canadian Rockies and a 132-year-old castle or join a “ peak nic ”—part interpretive-guided hike, part backcountry cooking lesson and part gourmet picnic. Some other tips: “The Dark Sky Festival in the fall hosts under the illuminated sky,” says Chaney. “While the winter is all about being in the mountains, the summer is focused on Alberta’s bounty of cerulean-blue lakes and cascading rivers.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Central and South America

Peggy Bree in Huacachina, Peru.

Where to Go: Huacachina, Peru

Chosen By: Peggy Bree, a part-time digital nomad from Toronto, has been working remotely and traveling since she was 23. She is a remote project manager, podcast host of Branding Gems and the owner of Blank Room (find everything here ). Follow her on Instagram for her faith, digital nomad and brand/business life.

Why : Peru is known for Machu Picchu, but 200 miles south of Lima and 10 minutes from the busy city of Ica, you’ll find the latest place to explore: Huacachina, an arid coastal desert town that is home to the world’s second highest sand dune. “This is a new find that people should flock to when they think of Peru. A true oasis in the desert,” says Bree. “There is just no other place like this one—it’s a hidden gem of a find where I fell in awe of the change of scenery.”

Adventurers come here from all over the world to check out 3,860-foot Cerro Blanco’s desert thrills, from riding dune buggies to sand boarding. “The Jeep rides are so fun and adventurous. Imagine a wild ride with no roads and no set direction,” says Bree. “You can also just look over the desert in deep thought—whatever floats your boat. Personally, I had such a grand time just in reflection of how beautiful Huacachina is.”

Whatever you do, be sure to wake up early. “You’ll have the oasis to yourself before the tourists come,” says Bree. “The sunrise and sunset view is also a gem.”

Placencia beach in Belize.

Where to Go: Belize

Chosen By: Stephanie Vermillion , a travel journalist and photographer covering stories at the intersection of culture and adventure for publications like Outside Magazine, National Geographic and Travel + Leisure . Follow her work and adventures on Instagram .

Why: Home to mystical Maya sites, wondrous aquatic habitats and lush national parks, Belize is one of Central America’s most biodiverse countries, touting tropical jungles, wildlife reserves and cascading flora and fauna. “There’s a reason Belize is buzzing this year: new hotels like sustainable glamping oasis Hills and Valley promise the ultimate Central American immersion, while a host of new nonstop flights make getting here a breeze,” says Vermillion. “But these tourism additions are merely supporting characters in my ultimate reason to visit Belize right now: connection. It’s something we all crave after two odd years of paused travel; it’s also where Belize shines.”

“There’s connection to wildlife via dive and snorkel trips along the awe-striking Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-largest coral reef system in the world. The new Marriott Autograph Collection property Alaia Belize , the country’s first and only luxury resort to offer PADI dive certification, gets you outside your comfort zone and into the heart of the Caribbean Sea action via its onsite dive shop,” she says.

The Belize Tourism Board is increasingly building pathways for travelers to connect with and support indigenous communities, especially on the southeast coast of Belize, where a blend of culture and adventure provides a perfect getaway for culture enthusiasts, thrill seekers and beach lovers. The charming laid-back villages and seaside communities of Dangria and Hopkins are the cultural heart and pride of the Garifuna people, who invite visitors to join in cultural dances and musical drums at Lebeha Drumming Center and delicious exotic foodie indulgences at the female-owned Tugucina Gloria . Belize is home to the world’s only jaguar preserve in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, spectacular jungle vistas, ziplining and waterfall rappelling in the Mayflower Bocawina National Park . And then there’s Placencia, the traditional Kriol (Creole) fishing village, which is known locally as “Barefoot Perfect.” It’s the ideal location to enjoy 16 miles of unspoiled beaches.

Galapagos sea lions sunbathing at the beach of Espanola island in the Galapagos Islands.

Where to Go: Ecuador

Chosen By: Katie Jackson has somehow made a living as a full-time travel writer since 2015 when an African safari turned into seven years of living out of a suitcase. In between trips, she can be found recuperating in Montana. She shares her adventures, and misadventures, on IG @katietalkstravel .

Why: In January, Jackson had the pleasure of sailing on Hurtigruten’s first Galapagos Islands expedition . “I returned with a newfound appreciation for wildlife, especially for birds, which I never thought would happen,” she says.

Also in January, the president of Ecuador established a new reserve that will triple the size of the Galapagos Islands’ protected area. It will extend all the way to Costa Rica, effectively creating a superhighway for fragile marine life. Among the unique species travelers can only see—or perhaps better said, encounter—in the islands are marine iguanas (the only seafaring iguanas), Galapagos tortoises (who can live to be 150 years old) and Darwin’s famous finches (essential to the theory of evolution).

“There’s nothing comparable to the thrill of snorkeling alongside utterly adorable—and equally playful—sea lions,” Jackson explains. “They were so curious and comfortable around us. One even hopped aboard our ship and tried to be a stowaway.”

Of course, mainland Ecuador—one of the most bio-diverse places on earth—is also worth checking out, whether your ideal destination involves volcanoes, rainforests, beaches or all three. Then there’s Quito, the first city to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated high in the Andes at an elevation of 9,350 feet, it’s also the highest constitutional capital in the world.

Jackson says she has heard phenomenal things from her travel writer friends about Mashpi Lodge : “It has won numerous industry awards and boasts a sky bike, an open-air cable car and a hummingbird garden.” She’s also eager to try Zazu —a Michelin-star worthy Relais & Chateaux restaurant in Quito. “The chef handpicks the fishermen he sources from and uses produce grown in his personal greenhouse.”

A pool at the Met Hotel in La Paz.

Where to Go: La Paz, Bolivia

Chosen By: Canela Ugalde, cofounder of How To La Paz , experience designer for Salar Art+Travel and gallery owner.

Why: While the Salar de Uyuni salt flats remain Bolivia’s top tourist attraction, La Paz—the city that touches the clouds and is the gateway to this natural wonder—has proven to be much more than a mere stopover. “Before the pandemic, La Paz was well under way to becoming the region’s top destination,” says Ugalde. “I truly believe we are picking the ball right up where we left it and coming out stronger than ever.”

New hotels, restaurants and experiences are popping up that reflect the culture’s values: authenticity and uniqueness. “ Met Hotel is a good example—a hotel built during the pandemic,” she says. “It will honor different cultural aspects of contemporary Bolivia. The hotel doubles as an art platform for local artists, which focuses on giving the visitor a taste of Bolivia through its architecture, design and cuisine.”

Other projects on the horizon that will be delivering unforgettable and unique experiences include the Panorama Hotel and Casa Gastón. “These will be one-of-a-kind spaces, unlike any other place you’ve ever visited, where you’ll feel the sense of wonder that only the Salt Flats can offer,” says Ugalde.

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Europe

Le Comptoir at The Ritz Paris.

Where to Go: Paris

Chosen By: Lindsey Tramuta is a travel and culture writer based in Paris and the author of the bestselling book The New Paris and the newly released The New Parisienne . Follow her on Instagram .

Why : “This city is super resilient,” says Tramuta. “You have this reawakening of the city, which is really beautiful.” For starters, there was the recent opening of the Hôtel de la Marine museum. “It’s extraordinary—it was closed to the public since the 1800s,” says Tramuta. “And its new museum restaurant, Mimosa by Michelin-starred chef Jean François Piège, is also a huge new reason to visit.” More cultural highlights: the reopening of the Musée de la Chasse et de La Nature (“super eclectic and super funky,” says Tramuta) and the new Bourse de Commerce art museum. And everyone’s talking about the reopening of Samaritaine , the Art Deco and Art Nouveau department store. “Even if you’re not necessarily in the market to shop for anything, architecturally it’s worth seeing, both outside and inside,” says Tramuta.

Tramuta also notes that there’s a lot of buzz happening at the Ritz Paris . “François Perret, their extremely talented pastry chef, has opened Le Comptoir , which is a dedicated pastry shop and tea salon where you can go and try pastries exclusive to this space—and it’s beautiful.” More big news from the Ritz includes the opening of the new astrologically inspired Ritz Bar and the upcoming reconcepting of the Ritz Club Spa.

Some other new culinary hotspots on Tramuta’s radar include Jugaad (“a terrific modern Indian restaurant”) and La Petite Epicerie de la Tour , a gourmet grocer from La Tour d’Argent, one of the most iconic restaurants in the world. “If you don’t want to take the time or the money to eat at the restaurant, you can have a taste of it here,” says Tramuta.

Another noteworthy development in Paris is the extraordinary extension of all of the bike lanes. “It really changes the way we navigate the city, and from a traveler’s perspective, it means that the pedestrian and the bike rider are all kings of the road,” says Tramuta.

Calton Hill in Edinburgh.

Where to Go: Edinburgh and Fife, Scotland

Who : Emily Goldfischer, London-based writer, hotel lover and founder of the website hertelier .

Why : A five-hour direct flight from the East Coast of the United States, those looking to dip their toes back into travel can look no further than Edinburgh and Fife in Scotland. “You’ll fall in love with the compact, hilly and history-filled capital of Edinburgh and the stunning peninsula of Fife, considered the Hamptons of Scotland but better known as the birthplace of golf,” says Goldfischer.

The big news in Edinburgh is St. James Quarter , a hub of shops, restaurants and hotels like the W Edinburgh (which will add a contemporary twist to the ever-changing skyline) and Roomzzz (a boutique living experience). Other Edinburgh hotel news includes The Gleneagles Townhouse (opening in St. Andrew Square) and 100 Princes Street Hotel (a bold statement by Red Carnation set to breathe new life into one of the city’s more important addresses). “You will be spoiled for choice of ways to spend a few glorious days,” says Goldfischer. “Edinburgh is perfect for strolling and there’s a burgeoning food scene with amazing farm-to-table options.” Check out Edinburgh’s first food hall, the Bonnie and Wild Scottish Marketplace , and the new Johnnie Walker Princes Street , which brings to life the story of the brand and its makers.

Beyond the city is Fife, a 50-mile drive along the Scottish coastline. “St. Andrews is perhaps the most glorious of all the towns in Fife, with its West Sands Beach, a two-mile stretch made famous from running scenes in the 1981 movie, Chariots of Fire ,” says Goldfischer. Its seven golf courses include Old Course (where the British Open will be held in 2022) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (founded in 1754 and considered the birthplace of golf). “Even if you have no interest or never played golf, don’t miss the Himalayas , a manicured 18-hole undulating putting course that changes every week,” says Goldfischer. “Stay at the Old Course hotel , home to the only Kohler spa outside the U.S. and a Mecca for golfers.”

A view of Porto in Portugal.

Where to Go: Portugal

Why: Once the most underrated country in Western Europe, Portugal is now on every traveler’s radar—and for good reason. It’s more affordable than neighboring Spain and France, its home to the world’s first demarcated wine region and its comfortable climate makes it a year-round destination.

“In April, my girlfriend and I are sailing to Portugal on the maiden voyage of Celebrity Beyond , captained by Kate McCue, America’s first female cruise ship captain,” says Jackson. “It’s our second trip to Portugal since August—we can’t seem to stay away.”

New nonstop flights from the U.S. on Azores Airlines mean it’s never been easier to reach Madeira , a stunning subtropical archipelago off the coast of Africa and basically Portugal’s answer to Hawaii. Thanks to new nonstop flight service from United, Americans can also conveniently island hop in the Azores , where dolphin and whale watching is practically an Olympic sport. Other Insta-worthy beaches can be found in the always-sunny Algarve , or if you’re a surfer, in the north, where the world’s largest standing wave attracts surfers from as far away as Australia.

For the past few years Jackson’s home-away-from-home in Portugal has been Onda Pura Surf Center in Porto . “Their local instructors—who speak perfect English—had me catching waves in the very first class.”

As far as accommodations go, booklovers will think they’ve died and gone to heaven in Obidos at The Literary Man whose collection includes more than 65,000 titles. In Lisbon, all the buzz is about the newest hotel, The Ivens , and its culinary offerings including a crudo bar, gastro bar and Rocco , an elegant Italian restaurant complete with a red carpet entrance.

Rooftop with a view at Six Senses Rome.

Where to Go: Rome

Chosen By: Laura Itzkowitz , a Rome-based travel writer.

Why: With a treasure trove of artistic, cultural and architectural wonders, Rome is coming back to life in 2022—and then some. “In addition to welcoming a handful of exciting new hotels, including Six Senses Rome , the Eternal City is creating new museum and pedestrian walkways that will give visitors an up-close view of the Sacred Area of Torre Argentina , the ancient site where Julius Caesar is believed to have been assassinated,” says Itzkowitz.

Set in a palazzo in the center of ancient Rome, just blocks away from the Fontana di Trevi, the new Six Senses is the brand’s first property in Italy and will have an emphasis on wellness and sustainability, from local, seasonal food to interiors from designer Patricia Urquiola. One of the highlights is the rooftop terrace, showcasing 360-degree views of Rome.

Other big news for the Eternal City: “Last year, the Mausoleum of Augustus —the world’s largest circular tomb—reopened to the public after an €8 million restoration,” says Itzkowitz.

Big Ben and Westminster Bridge in London.

Where to Go: London

Chosen By: Melissa Klurman —travel expert and contributor at Reader’s Digest , The Points Guy and Travel Awaits .

Why: “It’s been more than two years since I was in Europe, a length of time I couldn’t have imagined pre-pandemic,” says Klurman. “And I’m excited to cross the pond again and visit London, one of my favorite cities, which is easy to visit in 2022 since Great Britain no longer has Covid-testing requirements for entry.” One big highlight in 2022: the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. There will be royal watching and events and, in June, a weekend of pageants and parades worth a special visit.

“In addition to lots of royal excitement, there are some creative new theatrical offerings I’m excited to explore, including outdoor Shakespeare at the Globe and museum exhibits like the Van Gogh Self-Portraits at the Courtald Gallery,” says Klurman, who is also looking forward to taking advantage of GoCity passes, which are completely digital now. “So we can pop into iconic spots like Tower of London without having to spend our time queuing.”

Where to stay: The Nhow London on the fringes of trendy Shoreditch launched during the pandemic and is now primed for its first fully active summer. This is a hotel for design lovers, which is evident as soon as you step into the lobby and spot the 10-foot-tall statue of a rocket-ship Big Ben trailing tennis balls or the Day-Glo green centerpiece bar where you can grab a craft cocktail or a pint any time of day or night. Up in the rooms, the theatrically lit halls feel like you've stepped onto a London street with brightly painted doors resembling the entrances to British homes, complete with large brass knockers. Rooms sport fun details big and small from hanging bowler hat lamps to wall-size portraits of British Kings in the, ahem, throne room, to get you fully in the mood for a Royal Jubilee summer.

Barcelona with a view of La Sagrada Familia.

Where to Go: Barcelona

Chosen By: Alyssa Ramos, founder of My Life’s a Movie and a solo female travel blogger, content creator, entrepreneur and social media influencer who travels the world full-time and seeks to showcase unique destinations through her unique photography style and honest, detailed travel tips. Her motto is “Dreams Don't Work Unless You Do.”

Why: “There’s just something about Barcelona that attracts everyone and draws them in like a moth to a flame,” says Ramos. “Even the way the name rolls off your tongue is alluring, and once you arrive, you’ll never want to leave. I know this for a fact because I’m now based there, and even when I have an epic travel lineup, it’s still hard for me to pry myself away.”

Barcelona welcomes all types of travelers, from solo to couples, and even pets—Spain now considers dogs part of the family. When you’re visiting Barcelona, you’ll want to try some local cuisine; Ramos’s top recommendations are Bar Cañete or 7 Portes for paella, and Bar del Pla or Cerveceria Catalana for tapas. “If you’re looking for fun bars, Paradiso and Dr. Stravinsky are some of the most famous in the world,” says Ramos. “But there’s also some local secret spots that are less touristy, like Somnia .”

While the Gothic Quarter (or Barri Gòtic) and El Born are most popular for tourists to stroll along the many cobblestone streets, also check out Eixample for a local vibe, as well as Gràcia. “La Barceloneta, the main beach area, is a lot of fun with its many restaurants and chiringuitos (little bar/restaurants right in the sand), but if you walk further north, there’s also a strip of restaurants that turn into day clubs then night clubs,” says Ramos. “My favorite is Carpe Diem .”

Rooftops are also a glorious thing in Barcelona, and you can go up to most of them as long as you order at least a drink. “ Ohla and GHotel are a couple of my favorites, and Ayre Hotel is most famous but nearly impossible to get a reservation (it overlooks La Sagrada Familia),” says Ramos. “After you’ve seen all the main sites and neighborhoods, you can keep exploring by doing a hike up to Montjuïc or even Tibidabo, the castle-looking church you can see atop a massive hill from anywhere in town.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Africa and the Middle East

Female Rangers in Mghahinga National Park in Uganda.

Where to Go: Uganda

Chosen By: Christine Chitnis is a writer, photographer and author of four books, including Patterns of India . She is currently at work on her fifth book, Patterns of Portugal. Follow her colorful interpretation of life at @christine.chitnis .

Why: Uganda shares the Virunga Mountains with Rwanda, and thus the same quality of gorilla trekking experiences can be found in Bwindi National Park and Mgahinga National Park in Uganda. Luckily for travelers, permits are more than half the cost of permits in Rwanda.

The great ape experience doesn’t have to end with gorillas. Uganda has many parks for chimpanzee trekking, the Kyambura Gorge being one of the more unique. Located in Queen Elizabeth National Park, you can trek a family of 32 chimps in a sunken forest by morning and go on a cruise safari down the Kazinga Channel River, where sightings of elephants, buffalo, alligators, hippos are seen from this unique vantage point.

“I recently traveled with Go2Africa as I wanted to explore the intersection of travel and conservation in East Africa,” says Chitnis. “The country is brimming with impactful conservation work by inspiring leaders like Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka of Conservation Through Public Health and Praveen Moman, founder of Volcanoes Safaris , a pioneering great ape tourism company that couples world-class lodges with community-minded initiatives including a women-run coffee cooperative, a wetlands restoration project and the construction of a community center in a local village.”

Another thing not to miss in Uganda: a private island on the Nile River. Wildwaters Lodge sits on a rainforest reserve on 16 protected acres and is an adventure seeker’s paradise with access to white-water rafting, horseback riding, ziplining and more.

Where to Go: Zanzibar and Tanzania

Why: Tanzania is an ideal African country to visit, from safaris in the Serengeti where you can see the Big 5 (leopard, lion, elephant, buffalo and rhino) to the crystal-clear waters of Zanzibar. “If you’ve never done a safari before, prepare to be awestruck by the amount of animals you’ll see from the safety of your safari vehicle,” says Ramos. “Now is a really great time to go to Tanzania, because with the lack of tourism, the amount of animals has drastically increased.”

“After long game drives, you’ll then retire to fabulous glamping lodges, many of which are in the actual parks,” says Ramos. Some new places for 2022 to put on your radar: andBeyond Grumeti Serengeti River Lodge (which has an ideal location for experiencing the thrilling river crossing and vast herds of the Great Migration) and Usangu Expedition Camp (where you can have a hands-on conservation experience at the first tourism operation in the wild and uncharted Usangu wetlands of Ruaha National Park).

“If bucket-list checks or personal challenges are your thing, I’d highly recommend going for the Mount Kilimanjaro climb,” says Ramos. “I did it for International Women’s Day one year with an all-female group, and it was absolutely amazing.”

A quick flight or ferry will get you to the exotic island of Zanzibar. “But before you head off to enjoy the many tantalizing beaches, be sure to stop in Stone Town to learn about the dark history of the island, and how the slave trade markets originated there,” says Ramos. “One of my favorite boutique hotels in the entire world is located in Zanzibar; it’s called Tulia and it has its own jungle waterslides, plus an entire garden where they source their produce for the restaurant.”

On the balcony of Singita Lebombo, overlooking the N’wanetsi River.

Where: South Africa

Chosen By: Hannah Freedman, a former travel editor and current content strategist for Travel + Leisure . Follow along on her trips at @hfreed11 on Instagram and @awaywithhannahj on TikTok.

Why: With history, culture, awe-inspiring animal sightings, bustling cities and a stunning wine region, South Africa is the best of all worlds. It even brings the romance. “I recently visited South Africa for my bucket list-worthy honeymoon and it was truly the ultimate mix of adventure and relaxation. It’s a transformative trip you’ll never forget,” says Freedman. Plus, South Africa just recently relaxed its Covid testing requirements, making it easier for vaccinated travelers to visit.

United offers direct flights between New York City and Johannesburg, making Joburg a good place to start your journey. Get a history lesson by visiting the Apartheid Museum (which reopens following Covid shutdowns April 1), the Mandela House and the Hector Pieterson Museum . Then continue in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela with a stay at the Saxon Hotel, Villas & Spa . “You’ll feel a world away from the chaotic city streets thanks to its manicured garden grounds and multiple pools,” says Freedman. In addition to Mandela living at the property for six months, other notable past guests include the Clintons, Will Smith and even Oprah.

“Of course, you can’t visit South Africa without spending a few days in Kruger National Park,” advises Freedman. And a stay at all-inclusive Singita Lebombo or Singita Sweni is just the way to see epic wildlife and sleep in style. The two properties are right next to one another on a private concession of 33,000 acres within the park. “Singita has thought of every last detail to make this place a serious spoil,” says Freedman. “The wildlife is next level, the guides are incredibly knowledgeable, and the rooms are stunning.” The best animal encounter she experienced? Swimming at the on-site pool when a wild elephant came right up to munch on a nearby tree and steal a drink of water.

Round out your adventure with a last stop in Cape Town and the Winelands. Hike up Table Mountain for incredible city and ocean views and then head to Boulders Beach to spot the iconic penguin colony. For a luxe stay that includes plenty of culture, check in at estate-turned-boutique-property Ellerman House . “The private art collection here alone is worth it,” notes Freedman. The Winelands are just a 45-minute drive from the city, making it an easy day trip. Freedman recommends visiting Babylonstoren for delicious farm-to-table food with your wine and Delaire Graff Estate for romantic vista views.

Sunset over Wadi Rum in Jordan, one of the top places to travel in 2022.

Where to Go: Jordan

Chosen By: Kay Kingsman, travel writer and blogger at The Awkward Traveller .

Why: If you’re looking to dip your foot into solo travel in the Middle East, Jordan is the destination to do it. Over the past year, Jordan has heavily invested in repaving highways and improving access to tourist sites. “Plus, to better meet the needs of solo female travelers in Jordan , there are more women-led and women-operated tour guides and experiences,” says Kingsman. Whether you join a group trip or set off driving in Jordan on your own, your journey should start in Amman. “Amman is a whirlwind,” says Kingsman, who spent her days weaving in and out of the bustling sidewalks.

As you leave the city, head south to the Dead Sea, where you can float in the lowest point on Earth. “Insider’s tip, though,” Kingsman notes, “Don’t get the water in your mouth. Just trust me on that.” Another tip: “You might want to go sooner rather than later, as the Dead Sea is predicted to disappear in the next few decades.” If you’re interested in the Holy Land, just a short drive from the Dead Sea, you can visit the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ .

But of course, you can’t leave Jordan without heading to the desert. “If you’ve never camped under the stars, Wadi Rum is the place to do it,” says Kingsman, who suggests staying at Captain’s Camp , where you can experience sleeping in a cave, eating authentic Jordanian BBQ and getting in a dance battle with the staff. Then, in the morning, visit one of the Seven Wonders of the World: Petra. “Make sure to get an early start at Petra,” says Kingsman. “It can get hot in the middle of the day, so bring water and walking shoes.”

Best Places to Travel in 2022: Asia and Oceania

Jessica Nabongo in Kyoto, Japan. Image from her forthcoming book, "The Catch Me If You Can. "

Where to Go: Kyoto, Japan

Chosen By: Jessica Nabongo , travel expert, writer, photographer and author of The Catch Me If You Can , which goes on sale June 14 and will be available wherever books are sold; pre-order it now on Amazon or your preferred retailer.

Why: “Tokyo is such an important city for so many things, but what Kyoto does is show you the heart of Japanese culture,” says Nabongo, who lived in the ancient capital for one year. According to Nabongo, 2022 will be a great time to visit. “When Japan does open its borders, there will be a narrow window of time to see Kyoto without the crowds before visitors start coming back,” she says.

Even though borders have been closed, Kyoto has not stopped moving forward. New hotel openings include the luxurious Hotel the Mitsui , The Shinmonzen and the Marufukuro Hotel (in the old Nintendo headquarters building). Throughout the pandemic, the city of Kyoto also made a commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050, and initiated steps to curb overtourism in the city, including developing a consulting arm of the tourism board to provide tech support and social media training in the hopes of building awareness of less-visited stores and neighborhoods to reroute crowds away from high-volume areas.

Kyoto City is looking forward to a new point of view on tourism in 2022 and beyond. The Kyoto City Tourism Association installed live cameras around the city’s hotspots, including the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest and Nishiki Food Market, so that locals and tourists alike can check the congestion levels before venturing to those areas.

“Kyoto’s history as the ancient capital shines through, too. The city has a beautiful golden palace called Kinkaku-ji that makes for a super interesting visit,” says Nabongo. “And the food scene is incredible; you’ll find cool izakayas everywhere. If you’re looking to do a cultural deep-dive of Japan, Kyoto is the place to do it.”

V Villas Phuket in Thailand.

Where to Go: Phuket, Thailand

Chosen By: Content creator Shelbi Okumura of Bucket List Bums . Follow her on @bucketlistbums .

Why: “Thailand was one of the first destinations in Southeast Asia to open back up to tourists, and that early buzz now has everyone wanting to visit,” says Okumura. “Phuket particularly seems to be on everyone’s bucket list, and for good reason. It caters to everyone from high-end luxury travelers to backpackers on a budget.”

Travelers to Phuket in 2022 will experience the vibrancy of the island with fewer crowds, and starting April 1, without the requirement for proof of a negative PCR test within 72 hours prior to travel via three entry schemes, including Test & Go, Sandbox and Alternative Quarantine (AQ).

“There’s so much to see and do on the island—remote beaches, sunset bars, cheap eats, high-end restaurants, offshore islands and so much more,” says Okumura. “It’s the perfect place to start (or end) a week of island hopping in Thailand.”

Phuket offers options for all types of travelers looking to experience its pristine sea glass–colored water, and the island’s luxurious side is finally getting the attention it deserves. The new V Villas Phuket offers a curated selection of villas with private pools and one of the newest rooftop bars, AKOYA Star Lounge , serving craft cocktails and 360-degree ocean views. Phuket Old Town is a cultural hub for distinct street art, street vendors and live music at the Sunday night market, inventive eateries such as farm-to-table Torry’s Ice Cream and daring night performances at the Junkyard Theatre , which recently launched a weekly Saturday night show.

The Melbourne skyline with bathing huts in the foreground.

Where to Go: Victoria, Australia

Chosen By: Oksana St John is a travel writer and founder of an award-winning sustainable travel blog, DrinkTeaTravel.com . Together with her husband, Max, she’s on a mission to explore the world in a responsible way. You can follow their journey on their blog and see behind the scenes of their travels on Instagram and YouTube .

Why: “After being closed to international tourists for almost two years, tourism in Australia is coming back in full force in 2022 and if you are looking to escape the crowds while visiting, then Victoria is the place to go,” says St John. Victoria —the state that’s home to Melbourne, once called the “Paris of the South”—is welcoming a number of new accommodations and local experiences. A few standout hotel openings for 2022 include the Ritz Carlton Melbourne (the tallest hotel in Australia, complete with a sky check-in on level 79), Peppers Richmond (set on the historic Bridge Road in Melbourne’s lively inner-city suburb) and the Shangri-La Hotel, Melbourne (part of a stunning new development, Sapphire by the Gardens).

Want to check out the city’s insider spots? The best way to do it is on a tour with Hidden Secrets Tours. “There is always more to discover and make new memories each visit,” says founder Fiona Sweetman. “You just have to know where to look.”

If you only have a few days to spare, take a day trip from Melbourne to Phillip Island. “Stay in the charming Oak Tree Lodge , have a fabulous meal overlooking the ocean at The Cape Kitchen , go for a hike at Cape Woolamai and don’t miss the Penguin Parade at Summerland Beach,” says St John. If you have a bit more time, go on a road trip along the Great Ocean Road, or if you are fit, join the 12 Apostles Lodge Walk with the Australian Walking Company . “You’ll stay in environmentally conscious luxury accommodation, eat fabulous locally sourced meals and enjoy a foot spa at the end of each day,” says St John.

Cap off your visit with a few days in the Yarra Valley, Victoria’s lush wine country just an hour outside of Melbourne. “Enjoy a stay in a picturesque setting and pop by some cellar doors for a taste of great Australian wines. Don’t miss a stop at De Bortoli and try their comprehensive tasting menu perfectly matched with a selection of local cheese,” says St John.

Some other can’t-miss Victoria experiences include Alba , a new luxurious thermal spring and spa coming to the Mornington Peninsula. Grampians Peak Trail is a once-in-a-lifetime 13-day hike, complete with new roofed huts and campgrounds available for booking this spring. And at Sea Bounty Mussels in Portarlington, guests can harvest mussels fresh from the farm and have them cooked on the boat for a truly bespoke experience.

• Quit Your Job And Move Abroad: 10 Cheapest Places To Live

• The U.S. Is Home To One Of The 20 Most Welcoming Places On Earth

Laura Begley Bloom

  • Editorial Standards
  • Reprints & Permissions
  • International edition
  • Australia edition
  • Europe edition

Grand Canyon

10 of the best virtual tours of the world's natural wonders

If you’re bored of lockdown strolls in the local park, try these online hikes to Everest and Patagonia and a jaw-dropping ascent of El Capitan

10 virtual tours of the world’s most famous landmarks

The Grand Canyon, USA

At 277 miles in length, 18 miles across at its widest, and a maximum 1,857 metres deep, this vast Arizona landmark is grand in nature as well as name. Around 40 sedimentary layers are visible in its steep cliffs, with the oldest basement rocks formed around two billion years ago. Hike the canyon’s Bright Angel Trail via a Google Street View Trek . One of the most popular long-distance routes in the national park (9.3 miles), it zigzags up from the Colorado River to the south rim. Like with other entries in the list, wider exploration is on offer with Google Earth view , which lets users zoom in and out and click into points of interest – the peaks of Wontons Throne or Angels Window, for example – for further information. Another VR project, AirPano , has high-definition 360-degree images for a bird’s eye view of the Red Rocks.

Mount Everest, Nepal

Screen shot from Air Pano

Known in Nepali as Sagarmatha and Tibetan as Chomolungma , the world’s highest peak sits on the border between Nepal and China. Explore Everest’s south base camp in Nepal, at an altitude of 5,380 metres, with interactive 360-degree views of snowy peaks and colourful prayer flags. Via an interactive map , and a 3D rotating viewer, you can gaze at the 8,848-metre summit, plus other Himalayan peaks stretching west into Pakistan and east to Bhutan. Clicking the human-shaped icon on this page highlights all the points around the mountain range that can be explored further at ground level. Views from other peaks, including over the Imja River and mountain villages, are visible in these 360 degree images . There’s also shot of a busier south base camp – it sees about 35,000 visitors a year, after all.

The northern lights

Northern lights at Lake Torassieppi, Finland

The aurora borealis is a dazzling natural phenomenon caused by Earth’s magnetic field interacting with electrically charged particles from the sun. The lights are visible from countries at high northern latitudes, such as those of Scandinavia, Russia, Iceland, Greenland and Canada. The Norwegian Lights over Lapland project takes travellers on a five-minute journey through a series of 360-degree videos. The virtual trip starts in the Icehotel in Abisko national park, northern Sweden, heads into the wilderness on a reindeer sleigh, passing Lake Torneträsk and an Arctic birch forest on the way to a cosy wooden Sami hut at the base of Mount Noulja. A series of time-lapse videos then show the lights dancing overhead in vibrant streaks and arcs of rippling green. There are 360-degree images with a view from elsewhere in the world, including Iceland , over the Goðafoss waterfall; in Yamal and on the shore of the Barents Sea in Russia; and in several locations around Norway . You could even be lucky enough to witness the lights live via webcam in Manitoba, Canada.

Hang Sơn Đoòng , Vietnam

Sơn Đoòng, Vietnam

The world’s largest cave, Hang Sơn Đoòng in central Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang national park, was explored by scientists for the first time in 2009, after a local man, Ho Khanh, discovered it in 1991, but did not locate it again until many years later. Sơn Đoòng 360 is a project by National Geographic aiming to preserve the cave in digital form before it becomes subject to extensive tourism development. A trek – created from 360-degree images and atmospheric sound effects – heads through light-filled caverns, passing a 70 metre-tall stalagmite called Hand of Dog, and huge sinkhole jungles. Keep an eye out for members of the expedition crew, and take advantage of the high- definition images to zoom into details of the cave’s geology, flora – and fauna, too, if you look hard enough.

Yosemite national park, USA

El Capitan Yosemite

Yosemite, in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, is a diverse and spectacular natural landscape. It’s home to more than 400 species of animals, including around 500 American black bears, rare snowshoe hares and endangered mastiff bats. Granite monoliths tower over meadows, rivers and forests, including one the park’s most notable sights, El Capitan, standing over 900 metres tall with a near vertical cliff face. US climber Lynn Hill was the first person to free climb (without aid equipment) the challenging Nose route in 1993. Scale the mountain with Hill and her team, learning more about skills, techniques and equipment as you ascend to dizzying heights. The climbers jam their hands into “flakes” of rock and swing across the face to reach vertical cracks, stopping on a ledge, El Cap Tower, for the night. Explore the national park further with these 360-degree images , complete with sound effects, including sound Ahwahnee Meadow and Nevada Fall.

Zhāngjiājiè national forest park, China

Screenshot from AirPano

The quartz-sandstone pillars of Zhāngjiājiè – pronounced jaang-jyaa-jie – were the inspiration for the floating peaks of the Hallelujah Mountains in James Cameron’s Avatar film. Their unique shape is caused by physical erosion from water, ice and the roots of trees and foliage. Take flight around these towering natural columns – some stretching up over 1,000 metres – in an interactive video tour exploring the site, and zoom into high definition 360 degree shots from the sky. The park is also home to an ancient temple from 870AD, the cliffside Bailong glass elevator, and the world’s highest and longest glass bridge, strung between mountains 300 metres up, and a busy tourist spot – though seen in these 360-degree images with fewer crowds.

Giants Causeway, Northern Ireland

Giant's Causeway.

This fantastical section of County Antrim’s Atlantic coastline is made up of more than 40,000 interlocking, geometric (mostly hexagonal) basalt columns. Legend has it that the unusual rock formations are the remains of a stepping-stone causeway path to Scotland, built by giants. Scientists believe they were in fact formed by lava flowing into the sea, as molten basalt erupted through chalk beds 50 to 60 million years ago. The National Trust has created a series of virtual tours, with views from Aird Snout headland and by the water’s edge in the bay of Port Noffer at different times of day. There are also sweeping views from above to explore elsewhere, including the Carrick A Rede trail and rope bridge.

Perito Moreno glacier, Argentinian Patagonia

Despite the climate crisis causing many of the Earth’s glaciers to shrink, the defiant Perito Moreno remains largely undiminished; if anything, scientists say it’s growing. Covering 97 square miles of Los Glaciares national park, it is fed by the melting waters of the south Patagonian ice fields in the Andes. A set of interactive images on 360cities, give an impression of the scale (use the white arrows to click between views), as well as the variations of blue – the less oxygen in the ice, the bluer it gets. An immersive video tour of the wilderness beyond the glacier, created by the Guardian in 2018 (above), takes viewers around the varied landscape of the protected Parque Patagonia, passing turquoise rapids, a rainbow and a pack of guanacos roaming the plains.

Ambrym volcano, Vanuatu

Film still from Spitting Distance

This virtual tour ventures down into one of the world’s most active volcanoes, just a few metres from a churning 1,200C lava lake. It follows adventurers Ulla Lohmann and Sebastian Hoffmann, a couple who make documentary films, along with volcanologist Thomas Boyer, who descend together to the third terrace of Benbow, one of the main vents of the Ambrym volcano, on the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu.. The short interactive film joins the team as they prepare for the expedition, travel to base camp, up to the rim beyond the jungle, into the ash plain, and abseil down into the crevice, sitting just 60m away from the lava. The longer hair-raising 25-minute documentary , Spitting Distance – The Descent Into a Raging Volcano, is also available online.

Namib desert dunes, Namibia

Namib Desert dunes.

The swirling sculptural patterns the Namib desert’s sand dunes stretch for 31,000 square miles across the Namib-Naukluft national park in southern Africa. Some of the largest can be found in the Sossusvlei area, home to mountainous swathes of pink-orange sand, including the 388m-high Dune 7, which sits opposite Big Daddy at 325m, and Big Mamma, 198m. There are several interactive 360-degree images offering views from the giant dune ridges. The tour also includes the iconic Deadvlei, a salty clay pan backdrop to blackened, dead acacia trees; mist approaching from the sea of the Skeleton Coast; and a starlit scene showing the Milky Way.

  • Adventure travel
  • Walking holidays
  • Wildlife holidays
  • Travel websites

Comments (…)

Most viewed.

The best tour operators in the world: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

By Condé Nast Traveller

Scott Dunn

It’s been a challenging few years for tour operators but the names below are in it for the long haul (as well as the short and medium), honing itineraries and managing expectations. So who prepared your travel documents this year? Red Savannah and Black Tomato scored highest for first-hand knowledge, and Exodus Adventure Travels and Abercrombie & Kent for on-the-ground support. But when it came to all-round endeavour, Scott Dunn and The Turquoise Holiday Company were leaders of the pack. Both report a surge of interest in Asia, as well as multi-generational travel, solo adventures to Namibia, Bhutan and Mexico, and authentic experiences such as outback stations in Australia and bear lodges in Canada.

These are the best tour operators in the world, according to the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards . The scores below are percentages representing overall average levels of satisfaction.

The Turquoise Holiday Company

The best general tour operators in the world 2023

15. Cox & Kings. Score 88.00

14. Hayes & Jarvis. Score 89.44

13. Carrier. Score 90.73

12. Simpson Travel. Score 91.48

11. Kuoni. Score 92.82

10. Mr & Mrs Smith. Score 93.29

9. Kensington Tours. Score 94.14

8. Audley Travel. Score 94.77

7. Original Travel. Score 95.44

6. Cazenove + Loyd. Score 95.92

5. The Ultimate Travel Company. Score 96.75

4. Abercrombie & Kent. Score 97.12

3. Elegant Resorts. Score 97.39

2. Red Savannah. Score 97.96

  • The Turquoise Holiday Company. Score 98.42

Scott Dunn

The best travel specialists in the world 2023

15. Wild Frontiers. Score 94.81

14. Martin Randall Travel. Score 95.17

13. Intrepid Travel. Score 95.40

12. Wilderness. Score 96.54.

11. Inntravel. Score 96.88

10. Oxford Ski Company. Score 97.15

9. Kirker Holidays. Score 97.47

8. andBeyond. Score 97.61

7. Ampersand Travel. Score 97.65.

6. InsideJapan Tours. Score 97.79

5. Steppes Travel. Score 97.88

4. Black Tomato. Score 98.03

3. Exodus Adventure Travels. Score 98.15

2. Healing Holidays. Score 98.35

  • Scott Dunn. Score 98.70

Welcome to Epic Travel Plans!

Epic-Travel-Plans-logo-WEB-B

Epic Travel Plans

Destinations that will leave you Breathless. Plans to make it happen

Virtual tour of Singapore, city travel destinations

17 Best Virtual Tours of CITIES Around the World

If you ever wanted travel inspiration, THIS is it! These incredible virtual tours of cities take you to some of the most inspiring cities of the world. From the ultra-modern futuristic supertrees of Singapore to ancient ruins of Pompeii in Italy, I guarantee you’ll be wowed!

All of these city virtual tours are interactive 360 videos or 360 photos. To make them immersive , just put on your VR headset. 

17 best virtual tours of cities

This post is part of a best-of series of virtual tours. Find more incredible virtual tours , including famous historic sites, beautiful national parks and waterfalls, wildlife encounters, and crazy adventure travel. 

  • 4 Best Virtual Tours of Cities: Asia
  • 8 Best Virtual Tours of Cities: Europe
  • 5 Best Virtual Tours of Cities: North America

Summary and Resources

Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links to excellent travel-related products. This means that if you use the links below to make a purchase, we’ll receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

17 Best Virtual Tours of CITIES Around the World!

You’ll find plenty of styles in the list below of best virtual tours of cities around the world. Some are aerials and some are street views. Some have commentary, music or just the local ambience. If you want more city virtual tours or really like a particular style, check out the links in the Summary and Resources section at the end.

Now, before you start exploring these cities of the world, I highly recommend downloading my free travel bucket list template. It’s a fillable PDF, so it’s perfect for capturing which of these cities you’ll want to visit yourself one day. And I guarantee there’ll be a few!

Note: If the YouTube video looks blurry to you, change your video settings to higher resolution.

Want to upgrade your interactive 360 video experience to immersive VR videos? Here are some great options to check out for VR headsets. You can get a cheap but totally respectable Google Cardboard VR headset to use with your smartphone YouTube app. Or, get a stand-alone VR headset ; a very respected brand out there is Oculus . 

Best Virtual Tours of Cities of the World: ASIA

1. city virtual tour of singapore.

Virtual tour of cities, Singapore, travel destinations

This 360 video virtual tour of Singapore from Sygic Travel has added this city to my travel bucket list! Singapore has SO much to offer. Of course it has stunning architecture, fantastic shopping malls and incredible city views. But it also has very cool urban parks. Fountains with light shows. Certainly among the coolest cities of the world. Enjoy this great city virtual tour with helpful commentary.

2. City Virtual Tour of The Forbidden City (China)

Virtual tour of the Forbidden City, China

If you’ve ever wanted to tour China’s Forbidden City, you’ll love this Forbidden City virtual tour from YouVisit. It’s a series of 360 photos that take you through the top things to see in the Forbidden City. Enjoy the panoramas of the many Halls of Harmony, the stunning Gate of Supreme Harmony, and the Imperial Garden. Use the map to orientate yourself and get a sense of the entire complex. For more views, click on the small images in the bottom-right corner.

tours of the world

3. City Virtual Tour of Hong Kong (China)

Virtual tour of cities, Hong Kong

AirPano’s 360 video virtual tour of Hong Kong includes street views, aerial views and insightful commentary. What an INCREDIBLE city. Enjoy the beautiful interactive videos while learning more about Hong Kong. Check it out! 

4. City Virtual Tour of Tokyo (Japan)

Get a personal tour of the historical Asakusa area of Tokyo, Japan on a rickshaw. Man, I have SO much respect for this guy, hauling us all around Japan! This series is brought to us by visitjapan. The first of three videos in Asakusa features Sensoji, Tokyo’s oldest temple. 

You might also want to check out the other videos in this series, including the fun Asahi Breweries Headquarters , Bell of Time and Zuishin gate .

Want to see Mount Fuji? Head over to 23 Best Virtual Tours of National Parks !

Shop Google Cardboard, an inexpensive VR headset

Best Virtual Tours of Cities of the World: EUROPE

5. city virtual tour of moscow (russia).

Virtual tour of cities, Moscow Russia

Moscow is among the most enchanting cities of the world. Take an aerial 360 video virtual tour of Moscow from AirPano, who knows how to produce incredible aerial 360 videos! While I recognize some of these iconic buildings, many of these sights are brand new to me. Like so many of these incredible, massive statues. This city virtual tour is set to calm but inviting music. 

6. City Virtual Tour of Krakow (Poland)

Virtual tour of cities, Krakow Poland

This virtual tour of Krakow is INCREDIBLE. I had no idea that Krakow is so stunning, and this is undoubtedly the best city virtual tour I’ve found yet. 

Use the legend at the top to select from types of views, like incredible aerial views of the city, walking tours, and iconic buildings and museums.  Easily click on icons to explore specific sights, which include commentary and interior views. To change the commentary to English, look for the flag icon in the top-right corner and change it to the British flag. Some spots, like along the river, also have embedded YouTube videos (although they’re not in English). 

WOW. Give yourself some time to enjoy this fantastic city virtual tour!

tours of the world

7. City Virtual Tour of Naples (Italy)

Virtual tour of Naples, city in Italy

If you’ve ever wanted to visit Naples , this 360 video walking tour from Prowalk Tours will thrill you! You start with a map and overview of your route, and then simply walk through. Enjoy the street ambience and wander in and out of famous buildings. If you forget where you are or want to jump ahead, just use the time stamps in the description. Very nice. 

While you’re here, I’m also going to point out this regular non-360 video tour Prowalk Tours did of the Roman Ruins . Although it isn’t interactive, it’s fully narrated and very enjoyable.

tours of the world

8. City Virtual Tour of Pompeii (Italy)

Virtual tour of cities, Ancient ruins of Pompeii

Although Pompeii is technically part of Naples, this virtual tour of the ancient city ruins of Pompeii is worth its own entry. WOW. Prowalk Tours takes us on a thorough 2-hour virtual tour. While this sounds crazy-long, it’s just like you’re THERE walking through one of the ancient cities of the world. Strolling down the many narrow streets of Pompeii. Ducking into some of the buildings and stepping over walls. LOVE. THIS.

You may also like Inspiring OUTDOOR DECOR Items for Travel Lovers

9. City Virtual Tour of Taormina (Sicily)

Virtual tour of Taormina, city in Italy

Take a wonderful walking tour through Old Town Taormina in Messina, Sicily on this beautiful city virtual tour from Daniel VR4Holiday. The views are outstanding, and you feel like you’re right there. Walking those beautiful narrow streets, gazing into cute boutique shops, and enjoying some wine overlooking the gorgeous Mediterranean Sea faaar below. 

tours of the world

10. City Virtual Tour of Barcelona (Spain)

Virtual tour of cities, Barcelona Spain

Here is another wonderful virtual tour of one of the most romantic cities of the world. If you’re dreaming of visiting Barcelona , this 360 video virtual tour will help you plan that trip! Sygic Travel takes you through its gorgeous squares, streets and churches. Along the beach. To parks with colorful mosaics and incredible views. If you ever wondered why Gaudi is so popular, you’ll know after this!

11. City Virtual Tour of Paris (France)

Virtual tour of cities, Paris France, visit Europe

Now, if you’re looking for the most romantic cities of the world, then we have to visit Paris ! Enjoy this wonderful 360 video city virtual tour with Captivision, including insightful commentary. Step inside Notre Dame and climb the steps up to the hunchback bells. Stroll through the Louvre’s stunning halls and glimpse the famous Mona Lisa. Then the Palace of Versailles.

If you want more time to explore the Palace of Versailles, check out in Best Virtual Tours of Famous Historic Sights .

12. City Virtual Tour of London (England)

Virtual tour of cities, London England, United Kingdom

I quite love this 360 video virtual tour of London from Sygic Travel. It takes you around to the top tourist destinations in London and its commentary gives you insight into what you might want to see for yourself. Popular landmarks, buildings and parks. Where to eat and drink. Check it out!

You may also like:

  • First Day in London AFTER a Red-Eye
  • Road Trip from London to Edinburgh

tours of the world

Best Virtual Tours of Cities of the World: North America

13. city virtual tour of quebec city (canada).

Virtual tour of Quebec City, Canada

You definitely feel the charm of Old Quebec City in this 360 video virtual tour from Quebec region.

Take in the gorgeous views of the St. Lawrence River from a pretty promenade and as you descend along a tram. Chuckle (and watch your step) at the Breakneck Staircase and pan around to the cute shops along the narrow stone streets. Did you know that Rue du Petit-Champlain is the oldest commercial street in North America?

Want to visit for real? Check out QUEBEC Getaways for Couples !

14. City Virtual Tour of New York City (United States)

Virtual tour of NYC, Brooklyn Bridge in New York City

New York City is certainly among the most fascinating cities of the world. And, of course, there are a few city virtual tours through NYC! Which one will be your favorite depends on a lot of things. 

Here are my favorite three for you to check out:

  • New York City 360 video city virtual tour from Captivision. This virtual tour hits most of the top tourist destinations in the city, along with helpful commentary.
  • Here’s a very enjoyable 360 video virtual tour of New York City’s best views from The 360 Guy, including some less-known sights. 
  • If you want a more in-depth experience of New York City, take a guided tour through NYC Central Park with YouVisit.

Ready to plan your trip? Check out Where to Stay in Manhattan , Brooklyn, Staten Island , Queens and The Bronx !

15. City Virtual Tour of Austin, Texas (United States)

Virtual tour of Austin, Texas, travel United States

Here’s a fun city virtual tour of Austin, Texas from YouVisit with spectacular 360 photos. Explore parks and bridges with very pretty views. Famous buildings and city streets. Even a salt lick BBQ and brewery … complete with the barrel room tour! When you see small images in the bottom-right corner, click for more 360 views.

You may also like: ROMANTIC Getaway in Texas and Across the USA

16. City Virtual Tour of Mexico City (Mexico)

Check out the Mexico City virtual tour with vagabrothers. It includes commentary of some of Mexico City’s top tourist destinations, including Zocalo Square, Palacio de Bellas Artes, and Casa Azul – Frida Kahlo Museum. Learn more about local mural artists and Mexico City’s street art, too!

Also check out Inspiring OUTDOOR DECOR Items for Travel Lovers

17. City Virtual Tour of Havana (Cuba)

Virtual tour of Havana, city in Cuba

VR Gorilla has a TON of 360 video virtual tours I’m sure you’ll love. Below you’ll find a link to their YouTube channel, and I encourage you to explore! 

One of my favorite city virtual tours is the one VR Gorilla did of Havana , Cuba. It’s only 3 minutes long, but has a fun vibe of exploring Havana’s main spots and includes commentary. Visit historical squares and ocean views, and even go for a ride in a hot-pink classic car. SO. FUN. 

Of these virtual tours of cities, which is YOUR favorite? Which style of city virtual tour do you prefer: stunning aerials or immersive street views? Educational commentary or just the ambience of the area? 

Remember to capture your travel bucket list ideas in one place! My travel bucket list post includes a free fillable PDF template and a how-to guide. It’ll take you from brainstorming to prioritizing, so you make those trips happen!

BEST YouTube Channels for Virtual Tours of Cities of the World

To see all of the city virtual tours above that are on YouTube, check out my YouTube playlist . 

And if you want to see MORE virtual tours of cities of the world, check out the YouTube channels of some of the best 360 videos out there:

  • VR Gorilla : Find TONS of fantastic 360 video virtual tours from around the world. If you’re looking for more great city virtual tours, check out their guided tours playlist . It includes the greats, like Vienna and Amsterdam.
  • Sygic Travel : This is such a fantastic YouTube channel for planning your next trip! Their playlist tab organizes all of their videos according to city. Each playlist opens with an introductory video and then deep-dives into specific tourist destinations in that area.
  • Captivision : Keep an eye on this YouTube channel! Even though it only has 12 videos at the time of writing this, they already have more than 65K subscribers. It’s because they do a great job of moving you through cool places with their quality 360 video virtual tours, with commentary. 
  • Prowalk Tours : This YouTube channel features walking tours through a bunch of beautiful places in Italy. Here’s the 360 video playlist , which includes a walk through Herculaneum (1.5 hours) and a scooter ride along the Amalfi Coast. WOW. 
  • AirPano : Most of AirPano’s 360 video virtual tours are aerial shots set to music, but you’ll also find a few with good commentary. Check out their playlist of cities in 360 videos .
  • Andy Kay : These 360 videos take you to fascinating cities in places I know very little about, like Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Enjoy the soft music mixed with city ambience. There’s no commentary; just you and lots of time to pan and relax.
Enjoyed these city virtual tours? SHARE with your FRIENDS!

Inspired to get a VR headset?

It’s easy to turn these interactive 360 videos into immersive VR videos. You can get a low-cost Google Cardboard VR headset to use with your smartphone YouTube app. Or, get a stand-alone VR headset ; a very respected brand brand is Oculus . Enjoy!

Here are other posts you might like:

  • BEST Virtual Tours of Famous Historic Sites
  • CRAZY Virtual Tours of Extreme Sports and Adventure Travel
  • Trip Planning Step 1: Define YOUR Perfect Experience  

And if you just want MORE virtual tours, here’s all of the posts in my best-of virtual tours series .

17 best virtual tours of cities

Featured photo credit (Singapore): Coleen Rivas from Unsplash

Add a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Plan your ROMANTIC getaway with our eBook, available in our TRAVEL PRINTABLES store Dismiss

Epic Travel Plans to Beautiful Places to Visit Around the World, Melk Austria, Europe

Sign up now to receive your fillable PDF templates for building your travel bucket list and planning those epic trips! Plus, monthly inspiration and tips to make those "wow" trips happen.

Unsubscribe at any time. But we don't think you'll want to.

National Geographic content straight to your inbox—sign up for our popular newsletters here

woman swimming in ocean near lord howe island australia

  • BEST OF THE WORLD

Destinations on the rise for 2021

25 amazing places to inspire future journeys and remind us why we love to travel.

A diver explores the coral reefs around Lord Howe Island. The volcanic isle, located in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, has more than 60 dive sites, including Ball’s Pyramid—the world’s tallest sea stack.

The world is full of wonders—even if they’re hard to reach. While the pandemic has brought our journeys to a standstill, it has not quieted our curiosity. Ahead of a new year—with the promise of a return to travel—we are eager to share these 25 timely tales of timeless places that will define our future itineraries.

Reported by the global editors of National Geographic Travel and framed by five categories (Adventure, Culture and History, Nature, Family, Sustainability), these superlative destinations speak of resilient communities, innovative conservation efforts, and thrilling opportunities for future explorations.

The joy of travel comes from the unexpected. Now is the time to dream of your next journey and lay the foundation for your next trip. We hope our list of the new year’s most important places will inspire you. We look forward to seeing you out in the world soon!

tours of the world

In 1912, an eruption of the volcano Novarupta formed the caldera and crater lake at the summit of Mount Katmai, in Alaska’s Katmai National Park and Preserve.

Katmai National Park, Alaska

In the shadow of the volcano.

There are no roads into Katmai. Most of the nearly 5 million acres of this combined national park and preserve are designated wilderness where no hunting is allowed. The only way in is by boat or float plane.

For many travelers to the park—limited in number even before the pandemic— Katmai is where to visit a 1.2-mile-long fishing hole that serves the largest concentration of brown bears in the world. Thanks to the Bear Cam and Fat Bear Week it has become famous.

For archaeologists such as Laura Stelson, who explored here in the footsteps of a 1910s expedition sponsored by the National Geographic Society, the park is a site to study 9,000 years of human history. The longstanding Indigenous communities that lived in the area were displaced and re-established after the massive 1912 eruption of the Novarupta, the largest volcanic paroxysm of the 20th century. Stelson hopes one day to find the right technology to scan what lies beneath the pumice and other rock that covers this otherworldly landscape about 290 miles southwest of Anchorage .

( Related: Find six otherworldly destinations on our planet . )

“Katmai is a very unique place with all these different types of landscapes presented in one single park,” says Stelson. “You have coastal beaches. You have tundra. You have spruce forest, mountains, volcanoes, and you have this weird desert. So there’s just a lot of environmental diversity and diversity of experiences.”

Person swimming with sperm whale in dominica

Wildlife lovers can swim alongside Dominica’s resident sperm whales, but only with an accredited tour operator that follows strict animal-welfare protocols.

Caribbean adventure tourism helps fuel this island’s climate resiliency

The weathered mountains running down the spine of Dominica formed a natural shield, largely protecting the eastern Caribbean island, called Waitukubuli (“tall is her body”) by the Indigenous Kalinago, from colonial intrusions and overdevelopment. Left alone to thrive were leafy rainforest and a thrill-seeker’s dream collection of natural marvels: nine active volcanoes, 365 rivers, towering waterfalls, black sand beaches, and blistering-hot geothermal features like Boiling Lake, a flooded fumarole with water temperatures nearing 200°F (93.3°C).

What Dominica’s formidable volcanic terrain couldn’t block is global climate change, which is worsening the effects of hurricanes. Warmer ocean temperatures supercharged Hurricane Maria , whose direct hit on the island in September 2017 caused catastrophic landslides and critically damaged nearly every man-made structure.

( Related: Discover more big-time adventures on the island where nature rules. )

Post hurricane, nature rebounded, residents rebuilt, and the government resolved to make Dominica the world’s first climate-resilient nation. It requires not only hurricane-proof buildings but also a diverse economy , including a tourism sector that attracts more high-end spenders and an agricultural system that grows a variety of fruits and vegetables eaten locally. Adventure tourism plays a huge role in the climate resiliency push by creating jobs and an economic incentive to restore and protect Dominica’s greatest natural resource—its wild side.

Ready to book your trip? Snorkel Dominica’s crystal-clear waters with Nat Geo Expeditions.

The glacier in argentina

Perito Moreno glacier, located in Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park, is one of the only glaciers in the world that is growing instead of shrinking. It forms part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field—the Earth’s third-largest reserve of freshwater.

Los Glaciares National Park, Argentina

Where to hike a kingdom of ice.

Along the turquoise shores of Lake Argentino, the town of El Calafate gets its name from the thorny plant whose berries infuse cocktails and regional beers. However, its proximity to Los Glaciares National Park has placed the town on the tourist map as the gateway to the kingdom of ice in southern Argentine Patagonia .

There, near the border with Chile , the 1,722-square-mile park encompasses subantarctic forests that preserve habitats for species such as the guemal, puma, rhea, condor, guanaco, and the calafate plant. But the park’s main draws are the nearly 300 glaciers that cover almost half of the park surface. The most popular and accessible, three-mile-wide Perito Moreno glacier, stands almost 200 feet above the surface of Lake Argentino. Huge masses of ice spectacularly calve from its face with thunderous roars. It’s possible to hike with crampons on the glacier to find swaths of electric-blue color among waterfalls, crevices, ice caves, underground rivers, and extravagant ice formations.

( Related: Saddle up for stellar views and gaucho culture in Patagonia .)

This frozen desert is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the third largest expanse of continental ice in the world, after Antarctica and Greenland . After exploring the frigid ends of the Earth, visitors return to a boat waiting on the lake to celebrate their adventures with a shot of whiskey and chips of ice. —Erick Pinedo, Nat Geo Traveler Latin America

Ushguli village in georgia

Surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Caucasus mountain range, Svaneti is home to some of the most isolated villages in Georgia. Many of the watchtowers pictured above were built during the Middle Ages to protect against marauding armies.

Svaneti Region, Georgia

A remote land of warm welcomes.

Located in the shadows of 15,000-foot peaks, the Svaneti region in northwest Georgia ’s Caucasus mountains may seem forbiddingly inaccessible. The rugged landscape bristles with medieval stone towers that doubled as dwellings and defense posts. These fortresses attest to a time when Svan families fought fiercely to hold possession of their lands in small villages and lofty settlements such as Ushguli. Protected as the Upper Svaneti World Heritage site , Ushguli is one of Europe’s highest inhabited communities, at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level.

Due to its remoteness, Svan culture evolved over the centuries in isolation from the rest of Georgian lands, developing a unique oral-only language and traditions such as ritual beard cutting and blood feuds. Once infamous for lawlessness, the region is recognized today for its welcoming spirit. “Georgia is famous for its hospitality, but Svaneti is Georgian hospitality times 10. Parties, toasts, and alcohol are the order of the day,” says Michał Głombiowski, a travel writer and photographer from Poland who frequently visits Georgia.

( Related: This mega-trail offers hikers nearly a thousand miles of forest and mountains .)

While still far off any beaten path, Svaneti now is accessible to intrepid adventurers via the Upper Svaneti section of the Transcauca sian Trail , an ambitious long-distance trail network project ultimately aiming to connect Georgia, Armenia , and Azerbaijan . Trekkers with enough lung capacity to tackle a four-day, high-altitude hike from Mestia, the regional capital, to Ushguli are treated to cool vistas of serrated peaks by day and warm receptions in Svan guesthouses at night. —Martyna Szczepanik, Nat Geo Traveler Poland

people walk in front of black lives matter in tulsa oklahoma

A crowd mills around the “Black Wall Street Mural” in Tulsa’s Greenwood District, soon after its unveiling in June 2018. Racial violence devastated this once thriving Black-owned business district, but a cultural and economic revival is underway.

Tulsa, Oklahoma

A hub for discussions on race in the u.s..

Greenwood Rising , the name of Tulsa’s new “Black Wall Street” history center, aptly describes the groundswell of support for sustainable socioeconomic transformation in the Oklahoma city’s Historic Greenwood District—site of one of the worst incidents of racial violence in the United States’ history.

Beginning on May 31, 1921, white terrorists destroyed the prosperous district in an 18-hour assault, murdering some 300 Black residents and erasing nearly 35 blocks of Black-owned homes and businesses. To commemorate the 100th anniversary—and tell the story of the once vibrant community—the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Centennial Commission is building Greenwood Rising (expected to open in fall 2021) and is hosting speakers, concerts, and other special events throughout the year.

( Related: Remembering “Red Summer,” when white mobs massacred Blacks from Tulsa to D.C. )

The history center is designed to be a catalyst for revitalizing Greenwood and for confronting and ending systemic racism across the U.S., says Phil Armstrong, project director of the Centennial Commission.

“There’s a real sense in Tulsa and throughout the country that we are much better than this,” Armstrong says. “Greenwood Rising will be a launching pad for continuing the discussion of racial trauma and reconciliation, and the entire historic district will be a place where people can come to learn, acknowledge implicit bias, and personally commit to enacting real change within their own spheres of influence.”

Pueblos in Taos New Mexico

The only Native American site designated both a UNESCO World Heritage site and U.S. National Historic Landmark, Taos Pueblo is one of the country’s oldest continuously inhabited communities.

Pueblo Nations, New Mexico

Surfacing native american voices in the american southwest.

In New Mexico, monuments to oppressors of Native Americans—such as Spanish conquistador Don Diego de Vargas—are toppling, as some activists call to honor Po’pay, organizer of the 1680 Pueblo Revolt . The uprising ousted the Spanish from Pueblo Indian homelands. Although Spain regained control in 1692, the revolt is credited with ensuring the long-term survival of Pueblo culture.

A statue of Po’pay represents New Mexico in the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, D.C. At home, Po’pay’s enduring legacy is evident in the state’s 19 Pueblos, including Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Each Pueblo is a sovereign nation and living community with distinct traditions. The Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (IPCC) in Albuquerque is the starting point for exploring the Pueblos—online via a Virtual Culture Guide and in-person when it’s safe to resume group tours and celebrations.

Michael Lucero, IPCC’s guest experience manager and member of San Felipe Pueblo, calls the center’s resources the “lens” through which visitors can better appreciate the richness of Pueblo life. “When you step foot on a Pueblo, you’ll start connecting the dots,” Lucero says. “This is where we feel safe and connect with the Earth.”

( Want more stories from New Mexico? Visit our travel guide. )

Chamorro dancers in guam

In Guam, a local Chamoru dance group performs a blessing at the U.S. Naval Cemetery, in April 2017.

Revisiting Magellan’s legacy in the Pacific

The 500th anniversary of the first circumnavigation of the globe isn’t exactly a cause for celebration on Guam , a U.S. territory and largest of the Mariana Islands. During a three-day stopover in March 1521, Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan killed Indigenous Chamoru people and erroneously labeled the Marianas Islas de los Ladrones (Islands of Thieves).

A Spanish naval vessel will stop in Guam in March 2021, as part of a commemorative voyage retracing the world-circling route launched by Magellan in 1519 and completed by Spanish navigator Juan Sebastián Elcano in 1522. For the Chamoru today, the arrival of the anniversary expedition is an opportunity to tell their story, one whose chapters include the Magellan encounter, Guam’s colonial history, and the realities of living at what’s dubbed the U.S. military’s “tip of the spear” in the Pacific.

( Related: Guam’s ecological fate is in the hands of the U.S. military .)

Guam’s complex story is reflected in the Chamoru language, which features Spanish, English, and Japanese words. Young Chamorus are increasingly learning to embrace their culture, says Chamoru author and activist Michael Bevacqua .

“Chamoru is an Indigenous memory,” adds Bevacqua, who teaches free language lessons and encourages fellow Chamorus to voice their choice for the future of their island’s political status—whether statehood or independence. “To me, being able to speak Chamoru and pass it on is at the core of our culture and the identity of our people.”

Pavilions in gyeongju south korea

Donggung Palace overlooks the serene waters of Wolji Pond in Gyeongju, Republic of Korea.

Gyeongju, Republic of Korea

This ancient korean kingdom still glitters.

Named Korea ’s Culture City of East Asia 2021, Gyeongju is more commonly known by its nickname: “the museum without walls.” The city, located at the southeast corner of the Korean peninsula, is home to an astonishing abundance of archaeological sites, thanks to a nearly thousand-year reign as capital of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla (57 B.C. to A.D. 935).

Protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Gyeongju Historic Areas are a captivating collection of Buddhist art from this golden age. Among the treasures: temple and palace ruins, stone pagodas, rock carvings, a superb eighth-century statue of Buddha, and about 150 Silla nobility burial mounds, some up to 75 feet high.

( Related: How did South Korea prevent a COVID-19 disaster? )

Gold, silver, and gilt-bronze crowns, jewelry, and other glittering artifacts excavated from the tombs are displayed in the Gyeongju National Museum’ s “Silla the Kingdom of Gold” exhibit. Virtually tour the exhibition hall for an inside look at the lavish lifestyles of Silla royalty. —Bo-yeon Lim, Nat Geo Traveler Korea

Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain

The elegant Plaza Nueva (or Plaza de España) is a central gathering point in the Basque capital of Vitoria-Gasteiz.

Vitoria-Gasteiz, Basque Country, Spain

Jazz and legends in a basque cultural capital.

In the interior of Spain ’s tradition-rich Basque Country, one city claims the cultural crown. Vitoria, also known by its Basque name of Gasteiz, was historically a commercial and cultural crossroads due to its prime position on the shortest route connecting the medieval kingdom of Castile with northern Europe.

Now, Vitorians continue the tradition of welcoming outside influences by hosting emerging and legendary jazz artists—such as trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, whose Vitoria Suite album pays tribute to the city—during the international Vitoria-Gasteiz Jazz Festival held each July. A bronze statue honoring Marsalis stands in the gardens of La Florida Park, Vitoria’s green lung and part of a ring of parks giving Vitorians more square feet of green space per inhabitant than any other Spanish city. Urban nature conservation efforts coupled with a commitment to sustainable transport—a large part of the population travels by bicycle or tram—earned Vitoria-Gasteiz the title of European Green Capital in 2012.

( Related: This is how the Basques became an autonomous community within Spain .)

Planet-protecting Vitorians are equally passionate about preserving tradition, particularly in the historic quarter. The Gothic majesty of the Cathedral of Santa María tops a hill overlooking the centuries-old district. On streets that bear the names of medieval artisans’ guilds, locals throng bars and restaurants, sampling the habit-forming Basque version of tapas, known as pintxo . A plaza at the southern end of the old town is the site every August of an unusual celebration that honors the patron of the city—and the plaza’s namesake— la Virgen Blanca (the White Madonna). During the festival, a crowd gathers here to watch an effigy of a Basque villager, known as Celedón, whiz down a zip wire with his open umbrella to kick off the party. On reaching a balcony, Celedón magically “becomes” a real person who then encourages the crowd to enjoy the revels. —Sergi Ramis, Viajes National Geographic (Spain)

tonglu small town in china

The picturesque countryside of Tonglu has inspired Chinese artists and writers for centuries, including the famed painter Huang Gongwang.

Tonglu, China

A chinese landscape made famous in paintings lands its first art fest.

Completed in 1350, “ Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains ” is a touchstone of traditional Chinese shanshui , or landscape painting—a flowing visual journey along the Fuchun River and mountains that, when fully unrolled, extends more than 22 feet long.

Painter Huang Gongwang, one of the Four Masters of the Yuan dynasty, lived in seclusion alongside the Fuchun River, in Tonglu, for three years before completing this handscroll masterpiece. Ever since, tranquil Tonglu—tucked in the mountains of eastern Zhejiang Province, 168 miles southwest of Shanghai —has been a source of inspiration for generations of Chinese artists and writers.

In 2021 Tonglu is once again in the art spotlight. The first Tonglu Art Triennale, originally scheduled for autumn 2020 but postponed due to the pandemic to spring 2021, will display modern art installations in fields and along the river—and, the hope is, boost rural tourism. Festival curator and director Fram Kitagawa, founder of Japan’s Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, says the very word “Tonglu” embodies the spirit of the event.

He explains, “At this season, the fog on the Fuchun River and the clouds in the mountains are intertwined with each other, which is very similar to the Chinese landscape painting I knew when I was young.” —Yi Lu, Nat Geo Traveler China

Moose i water at sunrise on isle royale michigan

A female moose wades across a lake in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan.

Isle Royale, Michigan

Wolves and moose roam this lesser known u.s. national park.

Nature runs wild on Michigan ’s untamed Isle Royale, a best-kept secret of a national park in the northwestern corner of Lake Superior. The 45-mile-long wilderness island is only 18 miles from the shores of northeastern Minnesota , yet frequent fog banks, fierce storms, and choppy waters can make it seem edge-of-nowhere remote.

Along with causing numerous shipwrecks in the late 1800s to early 1900s, the hazardous waters surrounding Isle Royale shaped the island’s unique ecosystem. The park has only 18 mammal species (compared to more than 40 on the mainland), many of them descendants of the hardy animals who were able to swim here in summer or cross the frozen lake in winter.

( Related: See why Isle Royale National Park is a camper’s paradise .)

Since 1958, scientists have been observing Isle Royale’s most famous residents, wolves and moose, in the world’s longest predator-prey study. When only a single wolf pair remained in 2018 , a multiyear relocation plan began to restore the population, helping keep moose numbers in check and boosting the resiliency of the entire ecosystem.

Moose sightings are frequent, as are haunting loon calls. Less seen or heard are humans. The isolation and solitude mainly beckon seasoned backpackers, kayakers, and canoeists who arrive equipped to navigate Isle Royale’s roadless backcountry and inland lake paddling route, Chain of Lakes.

Cerrado brazil best of the world

Brazil’s Cerrado, South America’s largest savanna, is a haven for the seven-banded armadillo and hundreds of other species.

Cerrado, Brazil

This brazilian wilderness may be the closest thing we have to a ‘jurassic park’.

Environmental victories in the Brazilian Amazon don’t always turn out to be a good thing for its lesser known biome neighbor, the Cerrado. South America ’s largest savanna, the Cerrado covers nearly a quarter of Brazil’s land surface and is extraordinarily biodiverse. But it is increasingly vulnerable to deforestation due to soybean farming and cattle ranching driven from the Amazon . More than 40,000 square miles have been destroyed in the past decade alone.

The Brazilian Campaign for the Defense of the Cerrado (“No savanna, no water, no life”) is sounding the alarm about the pressing need to save this endangered wonderland. Several of South America’s major rivers—including São Francisco, Paraná-Paraguay, and Tocantins-Araguaia—begin here, and 5 percent of the planet’s plants and animals are found here.

( Related: Brazil’s wildfires may destroy the world’s largest tropical wetland .)

The Cerrado’s dizzying variety of life includes more than 10,000 species of plants (nearly half of which exist nowhere else) and Jurassic Park –size creatures: boarlike tapirs that can top 650 pounds; rare giant armadillos weighing up to 110 pounds; and giant anteaters, threatened with extinction in Brazil, that can weigh more than a hundred pounds. Equally outsized is a giant palm tree called buriti , nesting site for some of the 850-plus bird species and a main food source for many other wild things that call the Cerrado home.

the lagoon on lord howe island, australia

Mount Lidgbird rises over the lagoon at Lord Howe Island, Australia. Only 400 visitors are allowed at any one time to experience the natural wonders of this UNESCO World Heritage site.

Lord Howe Island, Australia

A ‘last paradise’ in the tasman sea.

Being off the path to anywhere helped Lord Howe, a tiny island in the Tasman Sea, stay human-free until the 18th century. Today, only 400 visitors (slightly more than the permanent population) are permitted at any one time, helping protect one of Earth’s most isolated ecosystems in what locals rightfully call “the last paradise.”

While less than seven miles long and just over a mile at its widest, Lord Howe is the largest in an eponymous World Heritage -listed chain of islands, remnants of an underwater volcano that erupted millions of years ago. Surrounding the island is Lord Howe Island Marine Park , home to the southernmost coral reefs on the planet, more than 500 fish species, and a who’s who of protected and threatened marine species, including the whale shark, great white shark, and hawksbill turtle.

( Related: Explore the southernmost coral reef in the world .)

The island’s Protecting Paradise Program takes a holistic approach to biosecurity, enlisting the help of community volunteers and technology to remove destructive invasive species ( most recently rodents ) and protect endemic ones like the critically endangered Lord Howe Island Phasmid, or “walking sausage,” a big-as-your-hand stick insect thought to be extinct until 2001.

Aurora borealis in yellowknife canada

The aurora borealis swirls over Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories.

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Northern lights shine here 240 nights a year.

The story of Yellowknife , capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, reads like an adventure novel. Sitting at the edge of the Arctic , on the banks of the Great Slave Lake, and surrounded by wild taiga, the city of 20,000 came into being when gold was discovered in the area in the 1930s.

Gold mining was the main industry in Yellowknife for decades, and when the last of the local gold mines was closed in 2004, the city was already busy mining diamonds: In 1991, geologists found one of the richest diamond deposits on Earth here.

The Dene people have stewarded and traveled this land for thousands of years. Today, in the face of global challenges like COVID-19, climate change, and environmental degradation, the Dene find freedom in the land, says Catherine Lafferty, a Yellowknives Dene Nation author whose latest book, Land-Water-Sky/Ndè-Tı-Yat’a , is the first penned under her Dene name, Katłıà.

( Related: These tips will give you the best shot at experiencing the northern lights. )

“Going out on the land is one way to find peace and solace, to reconnect and to heal,” says Lafferty, who was raised in Yellowknife and writes about Indigenous injustices in northern Canada . “The land helps us to remember what is important. It is there that we can find happiness in the simplicities of nature’s gifts.”

Future visitors to Yellowknife can experience some of these gifts during nights lit by the aurora borealis shimmering over the boreal forests and countless small lakes outside the city. —Ondřej Formanek, Nat Geo Traveler Czechia

Totem polies in stanley park vancouver

Totem poles in Vancouver’s Stanley Park are rich with meaning for several First Nations peoples from British Columbia’s west coast. Each carving refers to a real or mythical event.

Indigenous British Columbia, Canada

Where nature and first nations connect.

Canada’s westernmost province, British Columbia , is home to more than 200 distinct Nations . Amid the global reckoning on race, learning about Indigenous B.C. as a family is a springboard for talking with kids about timely issues such as cultural appropriation and racial stereotypes.

With an Indigenous history that spans some 10,000 years, the province is a perfect place to embark on authentic Indigenous travel experiences hosted by First Nations, Inuit, and Métis communities. Vancouver and Vancouver Island are among the most convenient places for families to learn about Indigenous culture. The island alone has more than 45 Nations and the city offers some kid-friendly urban options, such as Talaysay Tours’ “Talking Trees” walk in Stanley Park.

( Related: How First Nations-led protests in Canada sparked a conservation movement .)

On the 90-minute forest ramble, Squamish and Shíshálh cultural ambassadors share knowledge passed down through the generations to help visitors understand how First Nations people across southern British Columbia use the land for food, medicine, and technology.

“We do not see ourselves as separate from the land,” says Candace Campo, co-owner of Talaysay Tours and a member of the Shíshálh Nation. She explains that in the Shíshálh language, they have a saying: “ Nuchutmulh , [which] means ‘we are one’ and connected to all living things.”

Ready to plan your trip? Spend four days exploring the rich wildlife and culture of Haida Gwaii with Nat Geo Expeditions.

tours of the world

The Rocket Garden at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, on Florida’s Cape Canaveral, includes Saturn, Juno, and Mercury-Redstone rockets.

Space Coast, Florida

A launchpad for wonders both in the sky and in waters below.

With all systems go for U.S. astronauts to rocket into orbit via NASA’s new Commercial Crew program, Florida ’s Atlantic shoreline east of Orlando is again at the center of space exploration. The 72-mile stretch, known as the Space Coast, includes launch facilities at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center .

At the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (open with COVID-19 restrictions), families can watch scheduled blast-offs of SpaceX and Boeing spacecrafts and walk among gigantic rockets towering over a hundred feet high. A different sort of giant, the lumbering West Indian manatee, plies the waters of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge , surrounding the space center.

Tour company Florida Adventurer leads kayaking trips in the 140,000-acre refuge. By day, kayakers are treated to glimpses of manatees and dolphins. At night (June to September or later), the refuge’s Indian River Lagoon hosts an otherworldly underwater show, called bioluminescence, courtesy of billions of light-producing plankton.

( Related: Learn more about Florida’s Space Coast and its wildlife haven . )

“On bioluminescence tours, kids see light zigzagging in every direction under the water,” says Florida Adventurer owner Josh Myers. “During the day, a manatee could pop up next to their kayak and squirt water at them. Those moments are life-changing for kids, inspiring them to learn more about what lives in the water.” —Ivan Vasin, Nat Geo Traveler Russia

Movement in the ocean as the sun sets in england

When completed in 2021, the England Coast Path will link existing stretches, like the South West Coast Path (Cornwall’s Atlantic coast, pictured here), with newly minted paths to create a 2,800-mile coastal trail.

England Coast Path, U.K.

An epic walk to remember.

A colossal undertaking reaches fruition in 2021 as the England Coast Path —the world’s longest seafront walking trail, stretching nearly 2,800 miles—is unveiled in its entirety.

How does a small nation successfully vie for this global title? The answer lies in England ’s geography: peer closely at a map of Great Britain and you’ll see the land meets the water in an uneven zigzag of estuaries, inlets, and promontories. That rugged seascape—awash with secretive coves, windswept bluffs, and welcoming port towns—has been intrinsic to shaping the nation’s fortunes and character. And the new England Coast Path aims to bring this prized patrimony to the people and, in so doing, protect the landscape for generations to come.

( Related: Walking in Wales reveals legends and landscapes of imagination . )

While the project was partly inspired by the opening of the 870-mile Wales Coast Path in 2012, England has a long history of coastal hiking. In the 1970s the 630-mile South West Coast Path was established as a National Trail. The England Coast Path absorbs such existing stretches and has created dozens more from scratch for a total of 67 sections. Landowners, residents, and conservationists were consulted to harmoniously enact the landmark ruling of 2009 that legally opened up England’s whole coastline to the public for the first time.

Each segment of shore has a different character. While some stretches offer unspoiled rural scenery, others have been carefully curated. Opened in September 2020, the 40-mile segment dubbed “ Cumbria’s Hidden Coas t ,” winding from Whitehaven to Millom in the country’s northwest, is dotted with art installations and adrenalized activities. Meanwhile, in the southeast, a trail christened “ England’s Creative Coast ” links artworks and plots out a digital geocaching tour across Sussex, Kent, and Essex. —Maria Pieri, Nat Geo Traveller UK

Ready to book your trip? Nat Geo Expeditions has a 16-day cruise around the ancient isles of England, Ireland, and Scotland.

A man rides horses in the cultural style in hortobagy national park

A Hungarian csikós (a traditional horse herdsman) shows off his equestrian skills at Hortobágy National Park.

Hortobágy, Hungary

Cowboys and cranes in europe’s wide-open plains.

The broad spaces of Hortobágy National Park are nature-made for social distancing. Covering nearly 200,000 acres of the Great Hungarian Plain in eastern Hungary, the expansive World Heritage site preserves the largest remaining native grassland in Europe as well as pastoral traditions dating back millennia.

Poor soil for farming helped keep Hortobágy’s mosaic of alkaline marshes, meadows, pastures, and loess-steppe vegetation intact. Free from plowing and significant development, this puszta (barren land) flourished. The resulting rich grassland ecosystem, protected since 1973, provides critical habitat for some 340 bird species, including tens of thousands of winged fall migration travelers, such as gray geese and common cranes, that make the park one of central Europe’s best birding locations.

Hortobágy isn’t strictly for the birds, though. A few hundred shepherds and cowboys, called csikós , still roam the wavy grass, giving families a rare look at centuries-old animal husbandry traditions. Horse-drawn carriage tours pass by herdsmen and their puli dogs, an ancient Hungarian breed with a coat like a mop, and racka sheep, famous for their corkscrew horns. Tours typically feature demonstrations of big-thrill rodeo skills—like galloping while standing on the backs of two horses—by daring csikós dressed in their flowing, blue-and-black traditional folk wear.

( Related: Discover one of Europe’s most underrated wine regions .)

Also home on the Hortobágy range: one of the largest populations of endangered Przewalski’s horses . Some 300 wander the park’s Pentezug Wild Horse Reserve . Although the reserve isn’t open to the public, the add-on safari ride from Hortobágy Wild Animal Park rolls closely past the grazing animals—untamed residents of Hungary’s wild, wild east. —Tamás Vitray, Nat Geo Traveler Hungary

tours of the world

Founded in 1211, Brasov is a gateway city to the wildflower meadows and wooded mountains of rural Transylvania.

Transylvania, Romania

Finding the real in a land famous for fantasy.

One of the side effects of Dracula —the Gothic horror novel by Irish author Bram Stoker—was that it transformed Transylvania, a perfectly real Romanian region, into a mythical realm, a “cursed spot, from this cursed land, where the devil and his children still walk with earthly feet!” as the writer put it.

Since Stoker had never seen the place himself, he craftily compiled information for his 1897 novel from books written by British travel writers. He got some of the details right: the “robber steaks” (grilled beef kebabs called rablóhús ) and national dish mămăligă (a cornmeal porridge); sweet Golden Mediasch wine; descriptions of the folk wear; the roadside crosses; and the culturally complicated mix of Magyars, Saxons, Székelys, and Wallachians.

( Related: Peek inside the fortress known as “Dracula’s Castle.” )

What Stoker missed is what Transylvania should be known for: its pastoral, old-Europe feel. Cosmopolitan Cluj is a base for exploring rural Transylvania’s wildflower meadows, storybook castles, and cobbled-lane villages. For families increasingly tethered to technology, a future farm stay here would be a chance to unplug, to spend time instead traveling by horse-drawn cart, hiking in the wooded Carpathian Mountains, and helping with chores like milking sheep, collecting eggs, and piling haystacks.

Transylvania’s bucolic charms have long captivated the Prince of Wales, whose foundation funds local architectural heritage preservation projects. “It’s the timelessness of it which is so remarkable,” the future king says in the travel documentary Wild Carpathia, “almost out of some of those stories one used to read as a child.” —Catalin Gruia, Nat Geo Traveler Romania

Ready to plan your trip? Nat Geo Expeditions offers a four-day extension to Transylvania on its Lower Danube River cruise.

Native Americans dancing in denver

A group of traditional Aztec dancers perform during Crush Walls 2019, a popular street art festival in Denver, Colorado. Originating in central Mexico, the dance honors ancestors and represents different relationships with the Earth, animals, time, and customs.

Denver, Colorado

A green giant of a city in the american west.

Despite financial challenges related to COVID-19, Denver is powering forward with its goal of achieving 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030. Among the latest forward-thinking initiatives are 125 miles of new bike lanes by 2023 and solar gardens to be “planted” on municipal parking lots, rooftops, and vacant land in 2021.

“Investments in Denver’s clean energy economy will strengthen our community and address multiple concerns including our carbon footprint,” says Grace Rink, executive director of Denver’s Office of Climate Action, Sustainability, and Resiliency . Along with producing clean energy for public buildings, vehicle charging stations, and nearby low-income neighborhoods, the gardens will grow jobs and a paid training program during construction.

Connecting climate action and sustainability to economic prosperity and social justice has helped Denver earn the coveted LEED for Cities Platinum Certification . To encourage business owners to join the effort by putting eco-friendly solutions to work, Colorado ’s capital offers free, customized sustainability plans through Certifiably Green Denver . Thanks to the program, nearly 2,000 Denver businesses are creating greener, more efficient operations that use less water and energy, and produce less air pollution and waste.

( Related: Discover the best of Denver with top 10 tips .)

“We’re so fortunate to live in this beautiful place,” says Adam Schlegel, co-founder of Chook , a Certifiably Green restaurant that champions sustainable food practices, “and with that fortune comes the responsibility to protect it.”

People diving in greece

Divers explore a bounty of amphora from a fifth-century B.C. shipwreck—the first to be open to the public in Greece—in the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades.

Alonissos, Greece

Mediterranean haven for seals—and a deep dive into an ancient shipwreck.

Called “the Parthenon of shipwrecks,” the eerie remains of the ancient Peristera shipwreck recently opened as the first underwater museum in Greece accessible to recreational divers. Located below the surface in the National Marine Park of Alonissos and Northern Sporades , the site is thought to hold cargo from a large Athenian barge that sank in the fifth century B.C. Limiting human activity in the 873-square-mile marine park—established in 1992, primarily to save the endangered Mediterranean monk seal —helped keep archaeological looters at bay, preserving the wreck site and its bounty of intact, two-handled wine jars.

( Related: How Greece is rethinking its once bustling tourism industry .)

To explore the submerged museum in person, you’ll need to be able to dive to depths of 80 feet or more on a guided tour (slated to resume in summer 2021). Or, visit the information center on the small island of Alonissos and embark on a virtual reality tour of the wreck —no swimming required. —Lakshmi Sankaran, Nat Geo Traveller India

Lowland gorilla laying on a tree branch in africa

Since 2005, the Loango Gorilla Project has been studying a population of critically endangered western lowland gorillas in Loango National Park, Gabon.

More than 11 percent of this African country is national parkland

Elephants and hippos walk undisturbed on the beaches of Gabon —“Africa’s last Eden,” according to National Geographic explorer-in-residence Mike Fay —where more than 11 percent of the country is national parkland encompassing white-sand shorelines and inland forests.

Not all of Gabon’s 13 national parks are readily accessible. But Loango alone offers a variety of landscapes, vegetation, and wildlife, as well as the waterside Loango Lodge . One of this standout park’s highlights is an encounter with critically endangered western lowland gorillas . One group per day of four people maximum is allowed to try and find them, with no guarantee of success. In Pongara, one of five national parks protecting important sea turtle habitat, the beachfront Pongara Lodge offers close-up views of nesting leatherbacks, November to March, and migratory whales and dolphins, June to August.

( Related: Here are 17 unforgettable African safaris .)

Thanks to global investment in the country’s transportation networks, visiting Gabon—where an estimated 80 percent of the landmass is still covered by forest—is expected to become easier in the future. A sustainable development strategy also promises to expand ecotourism responsibly, helping ensure the country’s wildest places stay wild. —Barbera Bosma, Nat Geo Traveler Netherlands

stingray swimming in blue ocean france

The crystalline waters of New Caledonia harbor more than 9,000 marine species, including stingrays.

New Caledonia

Where marine life frolics in the south pacific.

Humpback whales, green sea turtles, dugongs—all congregate in the welcoming waters of New Caledonia . This French territory comprises a group of islands set like jewels in the southwest Pacific Ocean, some 900 miles off the east coast of Australia.

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, New Caledonia’s lagoons represent one of the most extensive reef systems in the world, with pristine waters and more than 9,000 marine species. In 2014, the government created the 500,000-square-mile Coral Sea Natural Park , which extends well beyond the UNESCO site. Christophe Chevillon, senior manager at the Pew Bertarelli Ocean Legacy , says the establishment of the Coral Sea park was “a notable and critical step for the conservation of New Caledonia’s waters as well as the protection of the last virgin coral reefs in the world.”

Now, the territory has taken further steps to ensure the long-term sustainability of its unique marine sanctuary. Fishing, nautical sports, and boats carrying more than 200 passengers are forbidden in large parts of the park, while some areas are banned from any human activity at all, except scientific research. A coral farm will open on Lifou island to restore reefs damaged by tourism in the past.

( Related: Can new science save Australia’s dying coral reef? )

Inland, the government is promoting ecotours and a new law aiming to ban all disposable plastic products by 2022. Tourism is strictly regulated in provincial parks, and the Giant Fern Park —a must-see in the tropical rainforest on the main island—is divided into zones for walking and biking while others are left to nature. —Marie-Amélie Carpio, Nat Geo Traveler France

People ski on copenhil in denmark's capital

CopenHill, billed as one of the cleanest waste-to-energy plants in the world, doubles as a year-round ski slope and hiking path in Copenhagen, which is aiming to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025.

Copenhagen, Denmark

A cosmopolitan capital creating sustainable solutions that pay off.

The widespread inequalities unmasked by the COVID-19 pandemic have ignited global interest in making cities more resilient, equitable, and healthy. In other words, a city like Copenhagen , on track to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025.

“In Copenhagen we insist on green solutions because they pay off,” the city’s Lord Mayor Frank Jensen says in We Have the Power to Move the World , the sustainable transport guidebook for mayors produced by C40 , a network of cities committed to addressing climate change.

“Copenhagen’s green transformation goes hand in hand with job creation, economic growth, and a better quality of life,” he says.

Denmark ’s capital has long targeted sustainability. The city has a very efficient public transportation network, and all its buses are transitioning from diesel-fueled to electric.

CopenHill , a waste-to-energy power plant burning 70 tons of waste per hour, produces clean energy for 60,000 families, while heating 120,000 homes. In 2019, CopenHill opened its outdoor play areas to the public: a rooftop green space, including hiking trails and a year-round ski and snowboard slope, and a stacked-block facade climbing wall.

Planet-friendly urban planning—such as the web of cycling paths that more than 60 percent of residents use to pedal to work and school every day—has resulted in Copenhagen having five times more bicycles than cars. A tour on an electric bike easily takes in the city’s most well-known places, from Nyhavn , a former industrial port now lined with restaurants and bars, to Rundetaarn , a 17th-century astronomical observatory housing exhibitions. It’s no surprise that bike-centric Copenhagen was chosen to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in July 2022. —Marco Cattaneo, Nat Geo Traveler Italy

Ready to plan your trip? Nat Geo Expeditions offers a 10-day Scandinavian cruise that departs from Copenhagen.

People at a market in freiburg germany

The vibrant German university town of Freiburg holds a weekly farmers’ market in front of its historic cathedral and implements a number of best practices in sustainable living.

Freiburg, Germany

This german university town is schooling the world on the best green practices.

Germany ’s vibrant university city of Freiburg readily embraces sustainable living. Mainly known as the gateway to the Black Forest, Freiburg is remarkably green, both in appearance and in action. Woodland covers more than 40 percent of the urban area. Renewables, such as solar, biomass, wind, and hydroelectricity, power the city, which converts its trash into biomass energy. Walking, biking, e-buses, and trams are the main modes of transportation, boosting chances Freiburg will meet its goals of cutting CO2 emissions in half or more by 2030 and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

( Related: In Germany, industrial sites are now artful enclaves .)

Best practices in green infrastructure—including cooperative housing with rooftop solar panels, urban gardens, and incentives for living car-free—were baked into Freiburg’s Vauban district, developed on a reclaimed brownfield site. Recognized as one of the world’s most sustainable city quarters, Vauban was shaped by a citizen-led vision of an ecological, self-organized, and socially just neighborhood. Completed in 2016, Quartier Vauban has grown into Freiburg’s most densely populated district, demonstrating that if cities build sustainably, people will come. —Werner Siefer, Nat Geo Traveler Germany

Related Topics

  • SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
  • CULTURAL TOURISM
  • WILDLIFE WATCHING
  • ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION

You May Also Like

tours of the world

Looking for a truly remote, off-the-grid adventure? Try Panama.

tours of the world

5 ways to make travel more meaningful in 2023

Limited time offer.

Get a FREE tote featuring 1 of 7 ICONIC PLACES OF THE WORLD

tours of the world

Don’t leave San Diego without trying these 9 experiences

tours of the world

25 breathtaking places and experiences for 2023

tours of the world

Visiting Ireland? Here’s what the locals love

tours of the world

10 best things to do in Switzerland

tours of the world

The essential guide to Switzerland

  • Environment

History & Culture

  • History & Culture
  • History Magazine
  • Mind, Body, Wonder
  • The Big Idea
  • Adventures Everywhere
  • Paid Content
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your US State Privacy Rights
  • Children's Online Privacy Policy
  • Interest-Based Ads
  • About Nielsen Measurement
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Nat Geo Home
  • Attend a Live Event
  • Book a Trip
  • Inspire Your Kids
  • Shop Nat Geo
  • Visit the D.C. Museum
  • Learn About Our Impact
  • Support Our Mission
  • Advertise With Us
  • Customer Service
  • Renew Subscription
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Work at Nat Geo
  • Sign Up for Our Newsletters
  • Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

Chinese Foreign Minister meets New Zealand counterpart to start diplomatic tour

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his New Zealand counterpart Monday, as China’s most senior diplomat began a tour of the country and Australia.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters greeted Wang in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital.

“There have been some significant developments since we last met, not least a global pandemic that impacted both our countries,” Peters said in his opening comments of their formal meeting at New Zealand’s parliament house.

“Today is a valuable opportunity to reflect on the challenges and opportunities that are now before us.”

Wang is the highest-ranking Chinese politician to visit the country since his own previous visit in 2017.

New Zealand has had strong economic ties with China in recent years, and was the first developed country to sign a bilateral free trade deal with Beijing in 2008.

While in Wellington, Wang will also have brief meetings with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Trade Minister Todd McClay.

“China looks forward to working with the two countries to deliver on the common understandings between the leaders, enhance strategic communication, deepen mutual trust, advance exchanges and co-operation, promote the steady and sustained growth of the China-New Zealand and China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnerships and contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

Wang will arrive in Canberra, Australia on Wednesday to meet with counterpart Penny Wong, with dialogue between the pair expected to center on the case of detained Australian Yang Hengjun .

It will be the first time the two foreign ministers have met face to face since Yang was found guilty of espionage following a closed trial and sentenced to death with a two-year reprieve in February.

Also on the agenda will be the removal of the last-remaining trade tariffs that were imposed by China in 2020 and were widely regarded as punishment for the previous Australian government passing laws that ban covert foreign interference in domestic politics, for barring Chinese-owned telecommunications giant Huawei from rolling out Australia’s 5G network due to security concerns and for calling for an independent investigation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The trade tariffs cost the local economy an estimated 20 billion Australian dollars ($13 billion), but have since been wound back on most goods except wine, rock lobsters and some abattoirs.

tours of the world

  • Share full article

Advertisement

Travel Advisers: When to Let a Professional Plan Your Trip

An illustration of a person sitting on a folded-out map with books, papers and coffee laid out around the area. That person is inside the head of a beige-colored person wearing a teal telephone headset, and drawings of the Eiffel Tower, a compass, a signpost, a jet plane, mountains and other travel imagery are all around the head.

By Julie Weed

Decades ago, your vacation most likely began with a visit to a travel agent, who relied on a combination of expertise and connections to find the best deals on plane tickets, hotels, tours and more. Since then, the internet has turned most of us into our own travel agents, and artificial intelligence software is making research and self-booking even easier. But for some trips, that special insider knowledge can still make a big difference.

So when should you hire a professional, and how does it all work? Here are some tips.

Why should I consider a travel adviser?

It’s easy for a traveler to do the research for a standard trip, said Chris Anderson, a professor at the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, “so they should look for a specialist for the type of tour they are looking for, say a bike trip in Ireland, who can really add value.”

The insider knowledge offered by a travel adviser can add the most value to trips that have multicity itineraries, involve a wide age range of travelers , are very significant (like an anniversary vacation) or are to destinations you are unfamiliar with, said Gary R. Johnson, who has run the travel agency Woodside Travel in Seattle for nearly 30 years. An adviser could help you decide, for instance, in which order to visit European cities based on local events and transportation options.

What can an adviser give me that a booking site can’t?

Travel advisers can help you research the best destinations, lodging, or activities for your particular group and travel goals, offering up specific advice that might be hard or time-consuming to find yourself. Those specializing in cruises might know which cabin to choose if you are prone to seasickness, while a safari planner could help you decide which park would be best for bird-watching or seeing specific animals, like rhinos.

Travel advisers typically have relationships with tour companies, hotels and cruise lines, sometimes through networks. Those connections can allow advisers to offer extra perks such as late checkout, free breakfast, airport transfers, a welcome basket or a credit to spend on a cruise ship.

“A good travel agent will be a better steward of your travel budget than you are,” said Guy Rubin, managing director of Imperial Tours , which arranges travel in China.

When bad weather or other circumstances disrupt your itinerary, travel advisers often have direct lines of communication with providers and can do the work of rebooking and changing plans, saving you time and stress.

OK, let’s say I need help. How do I find an adviser?

Networks like the American Society of Travel Advisors and Travel Leaders have websites that can help you start your search for a travel adviser by answering a few questions about your desired trip. Once you have a handful to choose from, get on the phone with them to talk about what they might do for you, how they charge and the level of service you can expect. Special trips can cost thousands of dollars, so it’s worth investing time up front, Mr. Rubin said.

Make sure to read over the travel agent’s reviews and any user-generated social content that mentions them, Dr. Anderson said. “If there is no external validation, that’s a red flag.”

How do advisers get paid, and how much will it cost me?

Advisers receive commission from suppliers, typically 10 to 15 percent of the price, when selling cruises, lodging and tours. They also sometimes charge travelers a planning fee, from a few hundred dollars, which may be credited to the final bill if the booking is completed, all the way up to tens of thousands of dollars annually for a luxury concierge travel planner they can call on all year. Mr. Johnson said that he charges a planning fee the first time he works with customers. If they return for other trips, he waives the fee.

Advisers may be tempted to sell you something that will earn them a higher commission, Dr. Anderson said. But, he points out, the same is true for the large online services, which promote hotels that pay them larger commissions. Travelers can ask advisers about specific commissions they receive or how they are affiliated with the products they are recommending, he said.

Sometimes a local tour company will package transportation, lodging and experiences for an adviser, who tacks on a percentage before passing it along to a client. But a bill that is not itemized can make it harder to make trade-offs — between a more expensive hotel and a special experience, for example. If pricing transparency is important to you, discuss it with the adviser up front.

How are A.I. and other technologies affecting travel advisers?

While new technologies are allowing do-it-yourselfers to create their own itineraries online based on individual preferences, and to type questions directly into travel websites, advisers are also taking advantage of those technologies to improve their services. Joan Roca, chief executive of the upscale travel planning company Essentialist said his team “uses technology to enhance the human touch,” employing artificial intelligence to choose options from a database of travel offerings selected by a human team. If a couple wants to take an after-dinner stroll, for example, Essentialist’s app will offer up ideas of where to go, based on what part of the city the travelers are in and conversations they’ve had with their travel adviser.

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

Italy :  Spend 36 hours in Florence , seeking out its lesser-known pockets.

Southern California :  Skip the freeways to explore the back roads between Los Angeles and Los Olivos , a 100-mile route that meanders through mountains, canyons and star-studded enclaves.

Mongolia : Some young people, searching for less curated travel experiences, are flocking to the open spaces of this East Asian nation .

Romania :  Timisoara  may be the most noteworthy city you’ve probably never heard of , offering just enough for visitors to fill two or three days.

India: A writer fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting Darjeeling, in the Himalayan foothills , taking in the tea gardens and riding a train through the hills.

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

ICC announces release of additional tickets for T20 World Cup: Here's how to get them

tours of the world

The International Cricket Council has announced the release of additional tickets and hospitality packages for the upcoming Men's T20 Cricket World Cup in the United States and West Indies.

The additional tickets and hospitality packages will be available to purchase on the official T20 website starting at 9 a.m. EST / 10 a.m. Antigua Standard Time on Tuesday, March 19. Tickets will be available for matches at all nine host locations, including for fixtures where tickets are currently unavailable. However, they will only be available for 51 of the 55 matches.

"Public tickets remain unavailable for four matches, including USA v Canada (Jun 1), India v Pakistan (9 Jun), India v Canada (15 Jun) and the Final in Barbados (Jun 29)," said the ICC in a news release Thursday.

More than 3 million people signed up for tickets during the public ballot that ran earlier this year from Feb. 1 to Feb. 7 and not everyone was able to score tickets through that. The ICC hopes the expansion of the public tickets will allow more supporters to experience the tournament.

“With less than 80 days to the start of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, this announcement is an emphatic response to the global call from fans to make additional tickets available for matches and we are thrilled to be able to do this, while ensuring that as many people as possible have the opportunity to witness the biggest Carnival of Cricket in person," Tournament Director Fawwaz Baksh said in a statement.

What to expect from the T20 World Cup? Tournament director says cricket matches will be 'very, very exciting'

Cricket: Learn about the game

Matches for which tickets will be available include:

  • Netherlands vs. Nepal: June 4, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas
  • India v Ireland: June 5, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
  • United States vs. Pakistan: June 6, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas
  • Sri Lanka vs. Bangladesh: June 7, Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium, Dallas
  • United States vs. India: June 12, Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York
  • Pakistan vs. Ireland: June 16, Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill
  • Super Eight A2 v D1: June 19, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua and Barbuda
  • Super Eight C1 v A1: June 20, Kensington Oval, Barbados
  • Super Eight A2 v C2: June 21, Kensington Oval, Barbados
  • Super Eight A1 v D2: June 22, Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua and Barbuda
  • Super Eight A2 v B1: June 23, Kensington Oval, Barbados
  • Semi-Final 1: June 26, Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad and Tobago
  • Semi-Final 2: June 27, Guyana National Stadium, Guyana

Hospitality program and travel packages

The ICC is also offering a hospitality program for the T20 World Cup, which will also open on March 19 at 9 a.m. EST / 10 a.m. Antigua Standard Time.

"Fans will be able to choose from a range of premium private suites and individual food and beverage packages across the West Indies and all fixtures at Nassau County International Stadium in New York," the ICC said. "Packages for fixtures at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium and Broward County Stadium will be released at a later date."

Cricket enthusiasts who will be travelling to the venues from different countries also have the option to secure ticket-inclusive travel packages through ICC Travel & Tours and official appointed Official Travel Agents listed on their website.

$40,000 cricket tickets: T20 World Cup, Pakistan-India demand, drives skyrocketing prices

ICC T20 World Cup general match tickets

General tickets for the 2024 T20 World Cup were available to purchase on first-come-first-serve basis on the tournament website from Feb. 22. While tickets for popular matches sold out almost immediately, there almost 37 matches for which tickets are still available. Ticket prices start at $6 for matches in the West Indies and at $35 for USA venues.

What ticket categories are available?

Tickets are available in the following categories, depending on the stadiums and venues:

  • Standard Plus
  • Grounds and Mounds / Standing Room Only (SRO)

ICC said all stadiums in the event are "divided into different enclosures which have different views of the field of play and may have differing degrees of shade".

What to know about the 2024 T20 World Cup

Fifty-five matches will be played across nine cities – three in the U.S. and six in the Caribbean, according to the I.C.C., with the opening match between Canada and the U.S. to be held on June 1 at Grand Prairie Stadium in the Dallas metro area, and the grand finale on June 29 in Barbados. The semi-finals will take place in Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana.

New York City will host the much-anticipated clash between Pakistan and India on June 9, according to the schedule released by the ICC.

England enters the year as defending champions, having beaten Pakistan in the 2022 T20 World Cup final in Melbourne. The series will mark U.S., Canada and Uganda's first appearances at a Men's T20 World Cup.

ICC World Cup venues

Matches will be played at the following stadiums in the United States:

  • Central Broward Park – Lauderhill, Florida, USA
  • Eisenhower Park – Nassau County, Long Island, New York, USA
  • Grand Prairie Stadium – Grand Prairie, Texas, USA

Matches will be played at the following stadiums in West Indies:

  • Kensington Oval – Bridgetown, Barbados
  • Daren Sammy Cricket Ground – Gros Islet, Saint Lucia
  • Arnos Vale Stadium – Kingstown, Saint Vincent
  • Brian Lara Cricket Academy – San Fernando, Trinidad

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

IMAGES

  1. World Tour: How To Travel Around The World For Less

    tours of the world

  2. The Best Collection Of Tours & Travel Activities

    tours of the world

  3. Five Best Colosseum Tour That Will Make Your Trip Memorable

    tours of the world

  4. Virtual Tours Of 12 World Landmarks

    tours of the world

  5. 10 of the best virtual tours of the world's natural wonders

    tours of the world

  6. Global Tours And Travels

    tours of the world

VIDEO

  1. Tour the World

  2. Best Travel Destinations in The World 2024

  3. NAMIBIA: The Ultimate Travel Guide with ALL SIGHTS on a 4x4 Road Trip

  4. Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland walking tour 4K 60fps

  5. Journey Through Israel

  6. Edinburgh, Scotland

COMMENTS

  1. Welcome to Tours for the World

    Tours for the World is a travel partner that offers hassle-free and enjoyable escorted tour packages to various destinations. Working exclusively through travel agents, you can access their tours, funpay portal, and booking/payment options through their website.

  2. Around the World Tours & Travel Packages 2024/2025

    Compare and book around the world trips from 17 tour companies with different styles, durations, and prices. Find the best guided and expert planned vacation and holiday packages for your dream destination.

  3. Tour the World

    Buy the Tour the World Poster and other brainy goodies here: https://brainmakerposters.comhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEPZPgtnTvj2F3qTCLfaP4w/storeMusic...

  4. World Tours 2024

    Contiki offers tailor-made packages that span over 8 diverse travel styles and 6 continents. See the world with food, accommodations and transport included, and connect trips to form an epic round the world adventure.

  5. Around the World Itinerary: 13 Months & 35 Countries

    Nepal - September 21 to October 17. Kathmandu. Everest Base Camp Trek. Patan & Bhaktapur. Pokhara. We planned our around the world itinerary so that we would be in Nepal at the end of September, the start of the trekking season to Everest Base Camp. Most people make the trek in early to mid-October.

  6. Tours for the World

    See the world together Embark on a remarkable journey with our Group Travel Packages, designed to create incredible memories and foster lifelong connections. With a minimum of 15 travelers, these fully escorted land packages offer a unique opportunity to explore the world alongside like-minded explorers.

  7. 30 World's Best Places to Visit for 2023-2024

    Paris. #1 in World's Best Places to Visit for 2023-2024. France's magnetic City of Light is a perennial tourist destination, drawing visitors with its iconic attractions, like the Eiffel Tower and ...

  8. Travel Around the World by Private Jet

    Encounter legendary places, from Machu Picchu and Easter Island to the Taj Mahal and the Pyramids, on an around-the-world trip with National Geographic experts.

  9. How to Travel Around the World

    Planning an around the world trip can be an overwhelming experience. From figuring out your budget to designing your itinerary to packing your bags, there are so many things to consider. We know what it is like. It's exciting and terrifying and awesome all at the same time. It took us four years of discussion just to even make the decision to ...

  10. Best virtual tours to explore the world from home

    Virtual Yosemite is absolutely stunning and one of the best, replete with audio. Both Yellowstone National Park and Mount Rushmore offer virtual tours as well. Google has similar 360 degree audio-visual tours of five select national parks, including Kenai Fjords, Hawai'i Volcanos, Carlsbad Caverns, Bryce Canyon, and Dry Tortugas, as well as 31 ...

  11. Top Around the World Itineraries

    Around the World in 7-10 days. Itineraries for going around the world usually spend a few days, usually more, in any given city. This is one of the great advantages to traveling for longer durations - the chance to spend more meaningful time in each stop along the way. The shortest around the world tours tend to be no longer than a month, while ...

  12. smarTours: The World's Best Tour Packages

    500 7th Ave. 8th Floor. New York, NY 10018. Toll Free: 1.800.337.7773. Telephone: 212.297.0955. Experience the best tour packages for the world's most amazing destinations with smarTours!

  13. How to Visit the 7 New Wonders of the World

    One thing's for sure, though: The Great Wall of China is worthy of its ranking among the seven wonders of the world. That's thanks in part to its deceptive beauty, as staffer Nilsen discovered while on our China: Beijing, Yangtze River Cruise & Shanghai tour. "Up close, it's angular, hard, and made of stone," he said of the serpentine ...

  14. Adventure Travel: Tours & Vacations From Explore

    Since launching in 1981, Explore has grown to become one of the world's best adventure travel companies, offering over 350 tours in around 100 countries worldwide. Favoring small-group tours with an average group size of just 11, our adventure vacation packages are the perfect size for meeting new people while allowing for an intimate ...

  15. 48 Hours Around the World: The Ultimate Stay-at-Home Itinerary

    9 a.m.: There's no better way to start a morning in Europe than with an easy-to-make British breakfast of crumpets. You may already have most of the ingredients on hand! Brew up a pot of tea and take it traditionally—with just a bit of milk—or feel free to add honey and lemon.

  16. 25 breathtaking places and experiences for 2023

    The isle is part of the Dodecanese archipelago, one of Nat Geo's Best of the World destinations for 2023. Photograph by Ciril Jazbec, National Geographic By National Geographic Staff

  17. Tours Of World

    Tours Of World offers best deals and lowest fares on flights, hotels and visas for various destinations around the world. Explore the top destinations, all star hotels and visa services with Tours Of World.

  18. Find Unique Vacation Packages & Trips

    Find your next vacation package and travel the world with National Geographic Expeditions. Our tours & trips are guided by knowledgeable experts and are sure to intrigue & inspire.

  19. The 22 Best Places To Travel Around The World In 2022: Where ...

    The choices for where to go in 2022 range from cutting-edge urban capitals to dreamy Caribbean islands to African destinations worthy of a bucket-list vacation. Tanzania—one of the best places ...

  20. 10 of the best virtual tours of the world's natural wonders

    10 virtual tours of the world's most famous landmarks. Antonia Wilson. Mon 6 Apr 2020 02.00 EDT Last modified on Mon 6 Apr 2020 03.37 EDT. Share. The Grand Canyon, USA.

  21. The best tour operators in the world: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

    Both report a surge of interest in Asia, as well as multi-generational travel, solo adventures to Namibia, Bhutan and Mexico, and authentic experiences such as outback stations in Australia and bear lodges in Canada. These are the best tour operators in the world, according to the 2023 Readers' Choice Awards. The scores below are percentages ...

  22. 17 Best Virtual Tours of CITIES Around the World

    First Day in London AFTER a Red-Eye. Road Trip from London to Edinburgh. Best Virtual Tours of Cities of the World: North America. 13. City Virtual Tour of Quebec City (Canada) Photo credit: breaktime from Pixabay. You definitely feel the charm of Old Quebec Cityin this 360 video virtual tour from Quebec region.

  23. National Geographic's list of best trips for future planning

    Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008, New Caledonia's lagoons represent one of the most extensive reef systems in the world, with pristine waters and more than 9,000 marine species.

  24. Chinese Foreign Minister meets New Zealand counterpart to start

    Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has begun a diplomatic tour of New Zealand and Australia, meeting with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters in Wellington, the nation's capital

  25. Planning a Trip? Tips and Tricks for Working With a Travel Adviser

    Decades ago, your vacation most likely began with a visit to a travel agent, who relied on a combination of expertise and connections to find the best deals on plane tickets, hotels, tours and ...

  26. 'World's coolest' streets for 2024 named by Time Out

    Time Out has announced its 2024 round-up of the world's best roads and walkways, with an Australian street with a sense of community spirit claiming the top spot. CNN values your feedback 1.

  27. More T20 World Cup tickets to be available, ICC says: How to get them

    Hospitality program and travel packages. The ICC is also offering a hospitality program for the T20 World Cup, which will also open on March 19 at 9 a.m. EST / 10 a.m. Antigua Standard Time.

  28. Players Championship 2024: Instant Reactions to Scottie Scheffler

    The world No. 1 carded an 8-under 64 in Sunday's final round in order to defend his 2023 title for the first time in the tournament's 50-year history. PGA TOUR @ PGATOUR

  29. Germany Faces More Travel Chaos Amid Rail, Airline Staff Strikes

    Germany braced for another wave of travel disruptions after unions representing Deutsche Lufthansa AG's cabin crew and train drivers announced more walkouts, adding to a string of travel chaos ...