2025

Best in Travel

countries

Cameroon celebrates the 65th anniversary of its independence in 2025 bringing overdue, well-deserved attention to the African nation’s extraordinary offerings. Pristine, unspoiled beaches of Kribi are more Castaway than Cancún, while cities Douala and Yaoundé pulse with an eclectic soundtrack drawn from the dance-heavy rumba rhythms of Central Africa.

In a world that commodifies the terms "conservation" and "sustainability", Lithuania epitomizes both. Named the European Green Capital of 2025, there’s never been a better time to explore its protected forests, lakes and sandy dunes along the Baltic Sea. Green spaces cover 61% of its capital, Vilnius, with unmissable attractions like the recently restored Sapieha Palace.

Visiting Fiji is a transformative experience. This 330-island archipelago, surrounded by 1.3 million sq miles of cerulean waters, has 460 protected marine areas brimming with life. Protecting this delicate and fragile ecosystem, its heritage and natural resources, is at the heart of a new initiative that encourages preservation through activities like planting coral and mangroves.

Take a ride on Laos newly-launched, high-speed international rail connecting its sedate mountainous plains with China’s bustling southwestern Yunnan Province. Travelers now have an affordable, efficient and sustainable way to traverse the region's best, yet relatively unseen, cultural and natural wonders and ancient cities. This is a quieter side of Asia less visited by foreign tourists.

Kazakhstan is an immersive destination for travelers in search of an unspoiled adventure awash in natural beauty, history and culture. Hikers will love the many trails in Sairam-Ugam National Park, uncrowded by tourists. Visit Shymkent, known for some of the country’s best food, or see Almaty, the old capital, for Kazakhstan’s Soviet heritage.

In the heart of South America, uncrowded Paraguay teems with life of all sorts and has a laid-back, welcoming vibe. There’s plenty to see. Visit the spiky Chaco forest (with jaguars and giant anteaters roaming around) or go to picturesque pueblos and plunging waterfalls. Be sure to tour the eclectic architecture of the charming capital, Asunción.

This twin-island Caribbean nation's food scene is a panoply of flavors with African, East Asian, French, Spanish, English, Dutch, Chinese and Indigenous influences. Trinidad and Tobago's headliner, though, is Carnival. This months-long extravaganza, which features steelpan competitions, stick-fighting battles and calypso showdowns, culminates in vibrant costume parades that take place on March 3 and 4, 2025.

With fewer than 45,000 tourists a year, Vanuatu is a largely untouched island escape, swathed in jungle, fringed by deserted beaches, dotted with volcanoes and laced with scenic trails. But the best reason to visit is to experience the rich heritage and diverse cultures of the Ni-Vanuatu (Melanesian people of Vanuatu, also known as Ni-Van).

Now is the time to visit Slovakia, thanks to a focus on outdoor adventures, ecotourism and multiple ongoing restoration projects in the capital and beyond. Take in the cultural riches and history in Bratislava, traverse the beech forests and wildflower meadows that cascade down the flanks of the Carpathian Mountains or hop aboard the Tatra Electric Railway.

From a mass tourism perspective, Armenia remains relatively undiscovered – for now. This is the time to visit, before everyone else gets wise. See the South Caucasus, stunning monasteries, the new Armenian National Trail or simply savor a glass of Areni Noir in a vineyard – Armenia's wine scene is on par with any in the world.