Best for dreamy and delicious New England summers

It’s hard to explain to a Mainer that their state is trendy. They’ll let out a sardonic laugh, roll their eyes, or both – an expression that has a salty kind of New Englandness to it.

But this state, the first place in the continental USA to see the sunrise each morning , feels like it’s been renewed in the past decade. Seaside Portland, its largest city, has become the spot in New England to open a new restaurant, particularly for chefs who have big-city training and cred, yet fear the price of entry in Boston or New York. The result is a James Beard award or nomination on every downtown corner. After wandering the cobblestone streets of the old center, belly full, you must move on. There is, after all, a lot to see here.

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10 days / 9 nights

Maine's Marvelous Coastline: Ten Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden

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You’ll need a car. The coastal hikes will take you past seaside towns teetering on stilts and emerald islands offshore , including those in Maine’s crown jewel: Acadia National Park. The islands are what people come for – plus the lighthouses, which continue to blink along the coast. But take time to head inland too. Whether you are at Mt Katahdin at sunrise or relaxing in a sun chair on a nameless pond as a loon sings its loopy serenade, these places are as precious in Maine as any coastal spot. And no one will roll their eyes at that.

Best for culture, cuisine and island adventures

Family-run homestays like the Malabar Home Stay have been reviving Jaffna as a cultural travel destination since the civil war ended in 2009. To understand Jaffna’s nuanced history, visit the restored Jaffna Public Library, which was set on fire during the war; the pentagonal-shaped Jaffna Fort, originally built by the Portuguese in 1619; and the two bunkers turned into museums at the luxury Fox Jaffna resort. 

An hour-long ferry from Jaffna is tiny Delft. With a shallow reef, coral-fenced houses and homestays like the Delft Village Stay, the sleepy island is ideal to slowly cycle around between home-cooked meals.

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15 days / 14 nights

Sri Lanka: A 15-day Cross-Country Odyssey

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FROM $4,050

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Traveling to Jaffna is easy by cycle, tuk tuk, bus or ferry, while trains and buses connect the city with the Sri Lankan capital Colombo and direct flights operate from Chennai. But above all, hospitality runs deep here, where warm smiles, cups of frothy tea and crab curry feasts are aplenty. 

Best for finding happiness in wild places

Pick up a map of Finland and it’s a bewildering mass of forests and lakes. Where to begin? With its Baltic breezes and easygoing air, Helsinki is an enticing springboard, with upbeat food, art and design scenes. Don’t miss Suomenlinna, a UNESCO World Heritage fort, and Tuomiokirkko, a neoclassical cake-topper of a cathedral. Explore further and you’ll love the laid-back beat in towns and cities like island-skipping, castle-topped Turku; cultured, lakeside Tampere; and riverside Oulu, with its lively market square, Kauppatori.

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10 days / 9 nights

Finland’s Arctic Expedition in 10 Days

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FROM $5,900

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But these are just the prelude for Finland’s truly great outdoors. Whether you are paddling through Finnish Lakeland in the golden light of a midsummer evening, feeling the heartbeat of Sámi reindeer-herding culture in Inari or embracing the bitter cold of Lapland on a dogsled ride as the northern lights come out to play, you will realize that Finnish happiness is tuning into nature, in touch with your inner child.

Best for hiking, history and food

Nature is on an epic scale in Tipperary, and nowhere more so than the Glen of Aherlow, a ridiculously scenic valley flanked by the Galtee Mountains and Slievenamuck. It’s perfect for hiking rugged trails, fishing, swimming and even horseback riding across open terrain. The light here is something else, casting the open valley in striking tones that shift throughout the day. 

The food is just as impressive. Tipperary apples are legendary, used in everything from tarts to world-famous ciders like Bulmers (Magners). Cashel Blue cheese is also worth traveling for: creamy, tangy and perfect with almost everything, especially locally produced crisps (chips) like hand-cooked O’Donnells or Blanco Niño. Restaurants take advantage of all this bounty: Mikey Ryan’s in Cashel serves locally reared lamb and beef, while the nearby Bishop’s Buttery is known for using local produce in French-inspired dishes.

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12 days / 11 nights

Ireland: 12 Days in Dublin, Kinsale, Cork, and County Tipperary

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FROM $5,700

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Tipperary’s history is everywhere; you’ll find castles scattered all over the place. The 12th-century Rock of Cashel and Cahir Castle are cinematic standouts, while you can explore 3km (1.8 miles) of historic passages in Mitchelstown Cave. More walking trails through woodlands, river valleys and ancient boglands are well developed and gloriously uncrowded. 

Evenings in Tipperary are best spent at one of its many friendly pubs, like the Thatch in Cloneen, run by the same family for seven generations, or Jim of the Mills, a Thursday-only spot that attracts folk and traditional musicians.

Best for Inca history and epic meals

Peru – with its ancient ruins and modern cities, deep traditions and pioneering cuisines – is racing toward the future while also carving out space to honor its illustrious past. For visitors, it’s never been easier to get around Peru, thanks to a slew of infrastructure developments, including new airports in both the political capital Lima and the adventure capital Huaraz, plus a soon-to-open airport near Cusco, the one-time capital of the Inca empire. Machu Picchu recently implemented three new circuits, with 10 tourist routes, in an effort to combat overtourism. Increasingly, visitors are also hiking to lesser-visited ruins like Choquequirao or along the stone-paved Qhapaq Ñan Andean Road System, which once linked Cusco with the vast Inca empire.

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14 days / 13 nights

A Journey from Coast to Andes in 14 Days

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FROM $4,895

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Meanwhile, Peruvian gastronomy has been on the cusp of global dominance for years, with Lima fast becoming one of the world’s great food capitals. Momentum continues to rise on the tide of emerging local trends, including the Japanese-Peruvian Nikkei cuisine, with star dishes like tiradito (sashimi draped over colorful sauces). Completely different in style and form are the spicy creole foods from Peru’s second-largest city, Arequipa, which has grown in popularity since it became a UNESCO City of Gastronomy in 2019.

Best for Carnaval, fine food and flamenco

Cádiz’s Carnaval is Spain’s biggest annual party, bringing extravagantly costumed revelers to its streets for 10 days of parades, fireworks, singing and dancing in February or March, to the accompaniment of more than 300 local murgas (bands). Pack a costume and book your accommodations months in advance or commute from nearby El Puerto de Santa María.

While you’re in El Puerto de Santa María, catch one of the numerous daily ferries across the bay to enjoy choice tipples at sherry wineries. Alternatively, sip sherries straight from the barrel at Cádiz’s Taberna La Manzanilla. And what’s good wine without good food? Cádiz’s dining scene ranges from old-school tapas bars clustered around Barrio de la Viña to fusion restaurants, found in the streets around Plaza Candelaria and Plaza de la Catedral.

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11 days / 10 nights

Best of Southern Spain and Cádiz in 11 Days

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FROM $3,850

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Cádiz’s other big draw is its millennia-long history as a port city. Vestiges of ancient civilizations include the Teatro Romano and the atmospherically lit remains of Phoenician and Roman streets at Yacimento Arqueológico Gadir. And unusually for a port, Cádiz boasts a string of gorgeous white sand beaches. 

Best for raw and real wildlife experiences

An African safari is on many a bucket list – and for good reason. Of all the candidates, perhaps no country is as deserving of its safari accolades as Botswana. With landscapes spanning from delta to desert and a lack of light pollution, so every star and comet blazes in the dark sky, Botswana has earned its place alongside popular safari destinations like Tanzania and South Africa. 

Warm and welcoming, the people of Botswana are proud of their country’s natural beauty and abundance of wildlife and are always ready to teach and share. The craftsmanship of Botswana’s artisans may become most apparent to you in the form of woven baskets, both functional and stylish, displayed in thoughtfully appointed gift shops at &Beyond and Wilderness DumaTau camps .

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9 days / 8 nights

Southern Africa: 9-Day Safari in Botswana and Zimbabwe

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FROM $7,750

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The country’s low-impact, high-value tourism ethos is reflected in the limits placed on the number of guests, beds and vehicles allowed in a private concession area. And the conservation efforts show as safari travelers are treated to herds of elephants, coalitions of majestic male lions and prides of lionesses and cubs with nary another person in sight. 

Game drives out here become addictive and also cultivate patience. As one guide put it, “The guides never lose patience, only the guests.”

Best for vibrant nightlife and history

Enclosed by a fortified stone wall that once kept foes at bay, Cartagena de Indias’ historic center overflows with charm, attracting visitors with its well-preserved Spanish architecture. Once the homes of Spanish sea merchants, military officers and well-to-do families, the city’s grand mansions now house chic boutique hotels, stylish shops and candlelit rooftop restaurants like Mar y Zielo, where Colombia’s rich gastronomic diversity shines.

Beyond its picturesque beauty, Cartagena tells a story of resilience and resistance. Visit the Museo de Oro Zenú to see exquisite gold artifacts crafted by the Zenú, an Indigenous group that thrived in the Caribbean lowlands before the Spanish conquest. Their descendants fight to preserve their cultural legacy to this day. Across Plaza de Bolívar, the Museo Histórico de Cartagena reveals the city’s darker past in exhibits on the Spanish Inquisition and the transatlantic slave trade. 

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11 days / 10 nights

Colombia's Cartagena, Medellín, and the Amazing Amazon in 11 Days

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FROM $4,560

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Venture into Getsemaní, a once overlooked neighborhood now bursting with colorful street art. Wander down the flag-strewn Calle de la Sierpe, lined with murals that have turned crumbling walls into living canvases. Streets converge at the Plaza de la Trinidad, which bustles after dark with street food, music and impromptu dance performances. 

Ready to join in? Real Experience Cartagena offers rooftop lessons in salsa, bachata and Afro-Colombian champeta, so you’ll be ready to hit the dance floor at Club de los Carpinteros, where locals and travelers move to the rhythm of Cartagena’s unstoppable beat.

Best for a tapestry of creative energy

This is the city of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera – artistic smarts are sewn into the very fabric of Mexico City. World-class museums cover every era of Mexico’s cultural history, and murals installed on the walls of public buildings are a picture book of the people’s past – from the Aztecs to the present-day residents of the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. History is potent here, yet Mexico City has all the modern comforts of cheap rideshares and cocktail bars. Passing from plaza to plaza, you can feel the energy of a city waking up to its creative life force. 

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7 days / 6 nights

Mexico City: A Week of Cultural and Culinary Marvels

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FROM $2,415

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Lots of the city’s leafy neighborhoods have become popular with digital creatives. However, with recent protests against gentrification in these areas, the city is tightening the rules on non-Mexican nationals living temporarily in the capital. We suggest choosing locally owned and operated hotels and patronizing local businesses.

Best for embracing nature

Mossy forests, saw-toothed mountains, white water rivers and wildlife-rich ecosystems: British Columbia (BC) is the kind of place that makes you want to dash out of your hotel room and energetically embrace the natural elements.

Beyond the wilderness, more human elements beckon. Multiculturalism is an increasingly important part of the fabric of BC. Not only is the province the ancestral home of 204 First Nations, whose heritage is visible in everything from totem poles to ceremonial masks, but its largest city, Vancouver, has developed into a rich mélange of international food and culture. The province is also a powerhouse of fruit growing and viticulture. The wine industry has exploded in recent years, with the number of wineries tripling between 2004 and 2024.

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13 days / 12 nights

British Columbia’s Coastal Charm and Wilderness in 13 Days

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FROM $5,395

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With only 5.5 million inhabitants, BC has plenty of room to explore. It has seven national parks – more than any other Canadian province – with an eighth, South Okanagan-Similkameen, in the planning phase. It’s also home to Whistler, North America’s largest ski resort, which hosted the first ever winter Invictus Games in February 2025, along with Vancouver. The event nurtured an international pedigree first cemented during the 2010 Winter Olympics. Continuing the tradition, Vancouver will cohost the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Best for a wild island escape

Sardinia’s pristine beaches may draw millions of visitors each year, but its natural and cultural riches extend well beyond the umbrella-dotted coast that tourists covet during the summer months. Shaped by its location in the heart of the Mediterranean, Sardinia stands apart from mainland Italy with a distinctive identity that you’ll notice as soon as you land on this sparsely populated island.

Sardinian, an endangered language recognized as one of the 12 protected minority languages in Italy, is spoken beside the Catalan-influenced tongue of Alghero, a legacy of medieval Aragonese conquests. Linguistic diversity offers an entry into the region’s character, but not all traces of Sardinia’s complex history are immaterial. Archeology enthusiasts will marvel at thousands of nuraghi, Bronze Age stone structures unique to Sardinia. Nuraghe Su Nuraxi, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is the best place to delve into the obscure nuraghic civilization.

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10 days / 9 nights

Sardinia in 10 Days: Spectacular Sights and Coastlines

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FROM $4,500

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Sardinia’s natural attractions are equally diverse. A couple of hours from each other, the much-publicized Costa Smeralda draws celebrities to its luxury resorts and yacht clubs, while the island of Asinara, once a maximum security prison, is now a wildlife haven uninhabited by humans for most of the year. Enjoy snorkeling, diving and caving along the coast, or explore the lesser-known interior by hiking a long-distance trail, such as the 500km (310-mile) Cammino di Santa Barbara, or by cycling any of the new paths being developed as part of the region’s infrastructural shift toward sustainability. 

Though crowded in summer, Sardinia reveals its hospitality and hidden wonders in the quieter offseason, making it an unforgettable destination for travelers seeking both relaxation and discovery.

Best for soothing the soul, one step at a time

Just over an hour flight south of Seoul, Jeju-do is an outdoor adventure playground. Summiting Hallasan, the 194m (6387ft) volcano at the heart of South Korea’s largest island, is the ultimate Jeju high. The warm oceans around the southern city of Seogwipo are perfect for diving among soft coral, kelp and tropical fish.

The 27 hiking routes of the Jeju Ole Trail cover the island’s extraordinary natural beauty and its culture one step at a time. Don’t miss the smaller, outer islands, including Gapado, where each May the buttery yellow wildflowers sway amid the stone-walled fields of green barley.

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13 days / 12 nights

South Korea: Seoul, Jeju-do, and Busan in 13 Days

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FROM $4,690

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A highlight of Jeju-si, the island’s capital, is the impressive contemporary art collection at the Arario Museum, including pieces by luminaries such as Gilbert & George, Damien Hirst and Anslem Kiefer. Dazzling digital art is screened at the Arte Museum and Bunker des Lumiêres, while the colorful works of Korean artists Lee Jung-Seop and Lee Wal-chong adorn streets and museums in Seogwipo.

No visit to Jeju is complete without tasting freshly grilled seafood at seaside shacks manned by the island’s famed haenyeo (women free divers). At the lively Dongmun Market of Jeju-si and the Seogwipo Maiel Olle Market, tuck into the island’s juicy mandarin oranges and other local culinary treats.

Best for fiery food and tropical idyll

Phuket is easy, breezy coastal living spiked with urban adventure. With expansive white sands, verdant jungles and trendy social hangouts galore, the island is a fabulous work-and-travel combo spot. Throw in Thailand’s digital nomad visa and it’s easy to see why young professionals are flocking here.

The island is southern Thailand’s prime jumping-off point for sailing expeditions and deep-sea diving around the Andaman Sea. To the north, even more world-class dive sites and little-visited islands cluster around the limestone cliffs and emerald isles of Phang-Nga Bay. Island hopping and underwater adventures are possible in just a single day; with the comfort of modern resort life waiting back on Phuket by dinnertime.

The island’s 50km (31-mile) coastline has more than 30 gold-blond strands laced with jungle-covered mountaintops. Hit some of Thailand’s best surf spots along Phuket’s western coast and southern tip; try out kitesurfing, paragliding and paddling sea canoes.

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10 days / 9 nights

Thailand: Phuket and Island Oases in 10 Days

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FROM $2,800

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Apart from nature’s solitude, Phuket boasts a lively yet unpretentious social scene. Soak up multicultural gastronomy and trendy cafes by day, as well as diverse evening entertainment. Cliffside bamboo hideaway A Blanket & A Pillow and underground techno lair Shelter are party-hearty favorites; Phuket’s lively night market scene includes standouts like Phuket Town’s Lard Yai on Sundays and Fridays on Boat Ave.

Best for brilliant sunsets and a colossal outback adventure

There’s an otherworldly beauty to the Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park that is unlike anywhere else in the Australian outback. A five-hour drive north of South Australia’s cultured capital Adelaide (save a detour to riesling country in the verdant Clare Valley) and you’ll be rewarded with a sprawling, scrubby, lunarlike landscape. 

According to the land’s Traditional Owners, the Adnyamathanha people, the mountainous walls of Ikara (Wilpena Pound) are the bodies of two intertwined Akurra (giant serpents). The pound’s short day hikes snake alongside gum-tree-lined gullies leading to ancient Indigenous rock paintings.

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A further three hours north is Arkaroola Wilderness Sanctuary, crowned as an official International Dark Sky Sanctuary in 2023; accommodations range from campsites to lodge rooms. Guests can choose from a menu of experiences at the on-site observatory – the 4WD adventure to a ridgetop sleepover in swag tents is the most immersive.

Adding to the region’s mystical beauty are its high-salinity pink lakes. (Yes, pink!) The best vantage points of the bubblegum hues – like those at Kati-Thanda-Lake Eyre, Australia’s largest salt lake – are from the air.

Best for cultural tourism that gives back

Aotearoa (New Zealand’s Māori language name) has emerged as a world leader in regenerative tourism. This is in no small part due to te ao Māori (the Māori worldview), which emphasizes concepts like kaitiakitanga (guardianship and protection of the environment) and manaakitanga (caring for others) while focusing on relationships, including those between ancestors and future generations. 

Across Te Ika-a-Māui (the North Island), Māori tour operators dedicated to uplifting their communities have emerged. Murupara’s Kohutapu Lodge, for example, creates economic opportunities in one of the country’s most socially and economically disadvantaged areas. Visitors can learn to do the haka or take a guided walking tour to ancient rock carvings, and as a result, Kohutapu has been able to invest more than $500,000 (US$295,000) in the community. 

Further afield in Te Tai Tokerau (Northland), you’ll find Manea Footprints of Kupe, a cultural center that shares the story of Polynesia explorer Kupe. It’s the region’s third-largest employer, with all of the profits going back into the community. 

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11 days / 10 nights

New Zealand's North Island: 11 Days in Auckland and Rotorua

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FROM $6,500

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North of Wellington, Māori-owned Kapiti Island Nature Tours acts as kaitiaki (guardians) of the predator-free island. Stay the night in a glamping tent and you may encounter one of the island’s 1200 little spotted kiwi, now extinct on the mainland.

Meanwhile, in the Hawke’s Bay wine-producing region, viticulturalists no longer rely on “terroir” to describe provenance. Instead, they’re increasingly using tūrangawaewae. It roughly translates to “a place to stand,” but the term embodies more than just the soil in which the grapes are grown; it also refers to a multigenerational connection to the land. 

For centuries, the North Island has been renowned for its geothermal wonders and rich cultural experiences, and these local businesses are ensuring that will be true for centuries to come. 

Best for desert and coast adventures

It’s interesting times in Tunisia, a country that feels suspended between an old world of romantic Roman ruins and vintage beach resorts and a new world of possibilities birthed by the Arab Spring in 2011. The country’s laid-back atmosphere makes it easy to forget the import of those events, which gave voice to an intense desire to construct a new future. Since then, Tunisia has been hard at work realizing that vision, cultivating a growing community of artists, entrepreneurs and intellectuals. These individuals are redefining Tunisia in their own image and surfacing its multiethnic history.

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For travelers, the country’s small size and good infrastructure – all international car agencies are present, and road and rail networks are good – are a gift, allowing for a multitude of wildly different experiences. Taking just eight hours to drive from north to south, you can dip your toes in the sea in the morning and walk the Sahara at night. In between, be sure to layer your experience with Tunisia’s fabulous Jewish-North African cuisine, amazing Roman ruins, treasure-filled antiquity museums and atmospheric medinas. Then round things off with some beachside hedonism or an unforgettable camel trek into the desert to sleep beneath a sky filled with a million stars. 

Best for slow cyclists and solo travelers

Imagine biking along traffic-free islands where every bend leads to landscapes of grazing land and endless blue water. The Batanes in the Philippines are island living a universe away.  The country’s smallest province, on its northernmost tip, consists of three main inhabited islands: Batan, Sabtang and Itbayat. While van tours are available, the best way to appreciate this windswept landscape that’s remained unchanged for decades is on two wheels. 

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Rent a bike as soon as you land in the capital Basco. Pedal to Basco Lighthouse in Naidi Hills, enjoy stunning views of Mt Iraya, and explore boulder-strewn beaches. Spend a day looping the roads around the island, soaking in the idyllic views, especially at Racuh a Payaman (aka Marlboro Country), with its vast pasturelands. Consider bringing the bike on the faluwa (traditional boat) to Sabtang Island, where traditional stone houses still stand; good for a day trip or overnight stay. 

Biking around the Batanes may not be the longest in terms of total distance, but the journey there and the region’s untamed beauty make it one of the best cycling destinations in the country.

Best for jungle immersion

Roaring howler monkeys and flamboyantly feathered macaws await visitors at the 2758 sq km (1061 sq mile) Reserva Nacional Tambopata, one of the world’s last easily accessible virgin tropical rainforests. Located near Puerto Maldonado, Tambopata has emerged as the epicenter of the hands-on, educational approach to Amazon ecotourism pioneered by Rainforest Expeditions. Its groundbreaking Wired Amazon program pairs field biologists with travelers who transform into citizen scientists. One day, visitors might place camera traps at strategic jaguar migration paths; another, set light traps in the forest to discover novel bug species, fly drones to monitor the health of Brazil nut trees or record the calls of eight primate species to aid in bioacoustics research. 

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12 days / 11 nights

Peru: Roots of the Rainforest in 12 Days

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FROM $5,100

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Nearby, Inkaterra, the world’s first climate-positive hotel brand, encourages guests to document regional flora and fauna in the lands surrounding its two Tambopata lodges and Amazon field station. Trips like these speak to the power of regenerative travel, one of the buzziest concepts in the industry, prizing transformative experiences that leave destinations better than you found them. 

Not only does your money actively fund conservation but your hands-on work adds to a growing body of research helping to protect Amazonian flora and fauna. What could be more win-win than that?

Best for bonding over beers with sore-throated fans

For followers of English football (not soccer please!), a pilgrimage to a Premier League match at one of England’s football cathedrals is the ultimate sporting experience. Going to a match is not just visiting a stadium; it opens a window into the country’s passions and character that you’d struggle to see doing anything else. The only thing the English seem to agree on is that they love their teams and the referees are out to get them. Underneath the exuberant support, grudges are held for generations. Local rivalries are intense, as are traditional matchups fizzing with historical animosity. 

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11 days / 10 nights

11 Days of the Premier League: An England Football Tour

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FROM $6,450

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The Premier League – sometimes called the EPL – is made up of 20 clubs spread unevenly across England, including several in London, the Midlands and the northwest. Games take place most weekends from August to May, with occasional and very atmospheric midweek games under floodlights. Seats are much sought-after, and most games sell out far in advance. Start planning as early as you can with the club – or clubs – you aim to watch. Membership schemes and (pricier) hospitality packages are the most likely route to a ticket.

Best for rethinking what a safari can be

Suspended above the Sabie River on a century-old railway bridge, Kruger Shalati: The Train on the Bridge reclaims a historic vantage point that helped establish Kruger as a national park in the 1920s.

The lodge’s wood-encased infinity pool, cantilevered above the river, invites you to trade an afternoon game drive for the sheer pleasure of watching wildlife drift into view. In your carriage suite, floor-to-ceiling windows mean you’re never cut off from the landscape – elephants passing below, hippos bobbing like half-sunken buoys and the wide-open bushveld rolling away on all sides.

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10 days / 9 nights

South Africa in 10 Days: Cape Town, Kruger & a Luxury Train Safari

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FROM $6,500

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There are no tired safari tropes at Kruger Shalati. Neutral tones are accented by shades of red and ochre in the woven rugs, carved wooden screens, textured furnishings and local art. Thoughtful touches are everywhere. Basotho-inspired blankets draped over king-sized beds. A soaking tub and rainfall shower are both angled toward the view, and a silky handmade robe hangs at the ready.

Each detail is an invitation to linger. Some travelers will still rise before dawn to seek the Big Five on guided drives, and that’s wonderful. But at Kruger Shalati, you can have both – the magic of a safari and the quiet joy of staying put while the wildlife comes to you.

Best for sweeping views, staggering heights and would-be cowboys

High in the Andes mountains, at 2600m (11,800ft), los chagras (Andean cowboys) have been roaming the region’s majestic terrain for centuries. Known as the Spirits of the Highlands, los chagras are skilled on horses, dedicated to their animals and to preserving the land. Ride among them, following their lead and charging (OK, ambling) across the Andean highlands with the awe-inspiring Volcán Cotopaxi (Cotopaxi Volcano) as a backdrop.

At century-old Hacienda el Provenir, a working ranch and hotel, guests dress in traditional chagra garments: vertically striped wool ponchos, chaps and brimmed hats (though inexperienced riders should strap on a helmet too). The circular route is gentle, and the ride is deliberately slow, but you’ll want to hold the reins tightly to control the horse – they find stopping to eat grass quite tempting. You won’t be galloping on this two-hour excursion; instead, the horses and their riders stroll en masse.

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10 days / 9 nights

Ecuador in 10 Days: Cotopaxi Cowboys and Amazon Adventures

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FROM $3,400

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After you reach the viewpoint for Cotopaxi, hop off your mount and sip a cup of steaming mint-flavored muña tea, a regional herb that combats altitude sickness. From this lookout, you will see the perfectly symmetrical Cotopaxi in the distance, towering high above you despite the steady climb, while Andean condors soar in the sky.

Best for a mindful getaway

Don’t come to a ryokan if you’re looking for a large-screen television, a business center to take conference calls or an espresso bar to fuel your packed itinerary. Instead, expect tatami mats, shoes off, elaborate set meals, common bathing facilities and futon bedding. 

The pace is downright languid in these traditional Japanese inns: a kimono clad-attendant glides down a hallway before disappearing behind a sliding paper door; a murmur of conversation comes from a dining room; a susurrus of bamboo and maple leaves whispers in from the garden. 

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14 days / 13 nights

Japan’s Golden Route: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto, and Fuji in 14 Days

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FROM $6,820

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The ideal form is the onsen ryokan, an inn that includes natural hot spring baths, often open air, like the multiple baths at Ginzanso in Yamagata Prefecture. To slip into a hot spring is to commune with the earth’s molten core – heated by magma, elementally nourished. 

The standard stay comes with two gourmet meals, highly seasonal and elaborately presented. Menus are preset, but many inns can accommodate dietary needs with advance notice. A sample sumptuous vegetarian spread from Tamagoyu in Fukushima Prefecture includes tempura, sweet potato dumplings, grilled and marinated eggplant, gingko nuts and sakura mochi (rice cake confections). 

Each season has its own recommendations. In winter, snowflakes dissolve as they meet the steam, creating a particularly atmospheric scene. In spring, tender local vegetables star in the cuisine. Summer retreats offer a respite from urban heat, and the blazing colors of autumn foliage make the perfect backdrop for a relaxing idyll.

Best for a no-hassle adventure

Crisscrossed by thousands of kilometers of waterways from the various tributaries of the Mekong River, the vast Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam is known as the country’s Rice Bowl for its bounty of rice and fruit. Life here is lived mainly on or by the water, making river cruising the ideal way to experience the Mekong Delta between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Cruising encourages traveling low and slow, allowing you to soak in the feast of sights and sounds. On excursions along the shore, canoes glide on a carpet of aquatic plants, while cycling trips lead to craft villages and colorful temples. Time spent on board is no less enjoyable, watching the ever-changing scenery go by, curled up with a book or a cocktail in the soft pink glow of sunset.

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9 days / 8 nights

Vietnam’s Mighty Mekong River Cruise in 9 Days

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FROM $2,853

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River cruise guests see the very best of the delta in perfectly measured doses. Active excursions break up slothful days. Noisy traffic is replaced by the countryside’s quiet. Scenery that can quickly become monotonous during long hours on a bus is nothing short of magical from the seat of a bicycle or a canoe. Welcome to the very best version of the Mekong Delta.

Best for ethical wildlife watching

The nine islands scattered in the middle of the vast emptiness of the North Atlantic Ocean that constitute the Azores have never been more popular. And almost every single visitor is going whale watching.

The islands are one of the best places in the world to see whales and dolphins; sightings are almost guaranteed. Tour boats embark from most of the islands, but Ponta Delgada in São Miguel is the most popular departure port. 

The best time to go is between April and early July, since the whales are on their annual migration and more species are in the surrounding water, including the elusive orcas. But the ocean surrounding the Azores is teeming with life year-round and, yes, that includes those friendly dolphins and pilot whales. The only thing that may stop you is the also year-round unpredictability of the weather. 

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9 days / 8 nights

Portugal’s Azores: 9 Days of Whale Watching, Nature, and Culture

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FROM $2,880

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Trips last more than three hours, so operators can follow tips about where the wildlife have recently been sighted. No doubt you’ll wobble off the boat at the end with a full camera roll, a great story and hair full of windblown knots. 

Best for art lovers and neighborhood wanderers

Bristol’s penchant for color is clear on arrival, with the rainbow row of houses on Richmond St visible from the Temple Meads station platform. But Bristol’s allure is far more intricate than those hilltop Monopoly homes. 

Often thought-provoking and political, street art has been part of Bristol’s identity since the early 1980s, with American hip-hop and graffiti culture influencing a host of aspiring artists and, eventually, the iconic and elusive Banksy. Head to the subversive Stokes Croft neighborhood for a glimpse at Banksy’s earliest work, including The Mild Mild West on the Jamaica St junction and Rose on a Mousetrap on Thomas St (prepare your legs for a steep walk first).  In the city center, Nelson St provides a towering canvas for several artists, with some fascinating neck-craning murals giving character to brutalist buildings that have no business being so interesting. 

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12 days / 11 nights

Southwest England: 12 Days in Bansky's Bristol, Cornwall, and Coastal Britain

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FROM $5,600

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Upfest attracts artists from all over the world, with North St in Bedminster at the hub for live painting and tours. Seek out the poignant stenciled piece Stop Bullying by French artist Goin on the corner of the Spotted Cow pub to feel Upfest’s global draw. Upfest Presents returns in February 2026, but Bristol’s street art is an ever-evolving beast that inspires any time of year. 

Best for bespoke astronomy experiences

Becoming the world’s first Dark Sky Nation is an audacious goal. In fact, it’s a certification that doesn’t exist yet. But if it did, New Zealand would be first in line. Already, Aotearoa (the country’s Māori language name) boasts eight certified Dark Sky Places. 

Nowhere do the stars shine quite as brightly as they do in the Wairarapa, the country’s most accessible Dark Sky Reserve. Situated just over an hour east of Wellington, the 3665 sq km (1415 sq mile) reserve is easily explored by foot, bike or car – but you don’t even have to leave your accommodations. Instead, stay at a countryside short-term rental or lodge and an experienced astronomer from Under the Stars will bring a telescope right to you. 

If you’d prefer to stay in town, book a tour at Star Safari’s observatory and visit Stonehenge Aotearoa, a stone circle constructed for the southern hemisphere’s celestial patterns. Time your visit for mid-June, when Matariki (a cluster of stars also known as the Pleiades) rises over the horizon, marking the Māori new year, or for Carterton Space Week in October. 

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11 days / 10 nights

New Zealand: 11 Days Stargazing in Wairarapa

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FROM $6,500

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During the day, explore the Wairarapa’s historic villages, including Greytown, with its carefully preserved Victorian-era main street, or Martinborough, home to more than 20 vineyards. Then add in an outdoor adventure for good measure and hike through the limestone chasm at Patuna Farm or visit the seal colony at Cape Palliser. Don’t forget to nap, though. You’ll need to stay awake when the skies come alive. 

Best for gastronomic adventurers

The bewitching South Indian state of Kerala might be famed for languid backwaters rippling beneath electric green palms but it is now quietly putting itself on the map as one of the country’s most thrilling culinary destinations. Mention the region’s coconut-fueled food scene to any Keralite and they’ll probably gush about wafer-thin masala dosa (curried vegetables inside a lentil crepe) served with kaapi (South Indian filter coffee) or pollichathu (fish marinated in spices and grilled inside banana leaves).

A food-focused journey through this unhurried southwest pocket of India not only reveals the sizzling secrets and traditional roots of its kitchens but also spotlights an intriguing history in which locally grown spices – pepper, cardamom, turmeric – have always played a key role. Even within Kerala, cuisine varies enormously, from the rich Mappila cooking of the northern Malabar region to the south coast’s coconut-laden stews mopped up with fluffy appam (rice pancake). 

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13 days / 12 nights

India: A 13-Day Culinary Adventure to Kerala

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FROM $5,440

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One of the most inspiring places to dive in is ancient Kochi (Cochin), an under-the-radar culinary hub where flavors from across India mingle with spiderlike cheenavala (Chinese fishing nets), an evocative old quarter and a thriving arts scene. Join an evening food walk with Kochi Heritage Project to discover the street food culture in the lively, spice-trading Mattancherry district, which over the centuries has become home for about 30 communities from across India.

However you end up digging in, Kerala’s immense flavors are sure to linger long after you leave its tropical, golden-hued shores.