Top things to do in Austria
December 9, 2024
Where to go in 2025
|It’s never too early to start looking at world travel ideas for next year’s leisure time, especially if you plan on taking more than one extraordinary trip. We’ve put together a list of truly exciting travel destinations for your consideration, giving you plenty of ideas for where to travel in 2025. We feel confident in all these selections — even if you only have time to visit one, you’re sure to have a phenomenal time.
Kenya’s protected natural wonders (in underrated national parks)
The forest- and grassland-dominated Shaba, Samburu, and Buffalo Springs National Reserves form a unique ecosystem in central-northern Kenya (specifically Isiolo and Samburu Counties). This area is just as astonishing as the famous Amboseli and Maasai Mara sites, but with considerably lower tourist volume (especially at Shaba) – hence why it’s high on our list of where to travel in 2025.
In all three reserves, you’ll see lions, elephants, leopards, gerenuks, Somali ostriches, gazelles, and reticulated giraffes, to name just a few. Shaba is notable for its sizable volcanic formations and waterfalls on the Ewaso Ngiro river. It’s also well-known to birders, as hundreds of species call the park home. Even more notably, Shaba is one of only two places in the world where the mysterious Williams’s lark can be seen (if you’re lucky).
Remote treasures of Pakistan’s Hunza Valley
Adventure enthusiasts looking for where to travel in 2025 will find the Hunza Valley in northern Pakistan’s Gilgit-Baltistan region appealing for its mountains alone. The Karakoram range is home to numerous peaks higher than 22,966ft (7,000m). Those not ready to tackle such summits can enjoy lower-altitude trails that still offer absolutely stunning views — not just of the mountains above, but also sites like Borith Lake and the Ghulkin and Batura Glaciers (the latter being the world’s fifth-largest non-polar glacier).
Tales of extremely long lifespans among the valley’s indigenous groups (the Burusho, Shina, and Wakhi) may be more myth than truth. But there’s much to be learned from respectfully observing the calm, unhurried rhythms of their lives in Hunza villages. Finally, there are three can’t-miss attractions: the Altit and Baltit Forts (palaces for the rulers of the former Hunza state) and the stunning Khunjerab Pass. The latter is the world’s highest paved border crossing, reaching 16,187ft (4,934m) above sea level and connecting Pakistan to China.
Indonesia off the beaten path
Considering Indonesia has 17,000 islands, why limit yourself to Bali, Sumatra, or Java? Investigate underrated or up-and-coming travel destinations in the massive Southeast Asian archipelago. Sumba, for example, offers much for all kinds of travelers: Kerewei Beach is a surfing hotspot, while Walakiri and Wera are best for leisure. Natural beauty abounds on this island, from the Waimarang and Lapopu waterfalls to the forests, cliffs, and lagoons of Tambolaka.
Flores is ideal for nature lovers, as it’s home to coral reefs, hot springs, cave formations, lakes, and much more. It’s also not far from Komodo, where the fearsome eponymous reptile lives in its protected habitat. Last but not least, the three Gili Islands offer distinctly different pleasures: robust nightlife in Trawangan, snorkeling alongside sea turtles at Meno, and pure leisure under stunning skies at Gili Air.
The “magic towns” of Mexico
You’ll experience Mexico most authentically if you duck the resorts and find the pueblos mágicos. These “magic towns”, formally designated as such after meeting Ministry of Tourism criteria for cultural or historical richness, are all over the nation – but Puebla, Jalisco, Michoacán, and Estado de México all have 10 or more.
Some of these pueblos are either quite well-known or too big to be called towns, like Tequila (take a guess) and Tlaquepaque (at least 575,000 people) in Jalisco. But with nearly 180 options, you’ll find one to your liking: in Paracho de Verduzco, Michoacán, you can marvel at the handcrafted guitars and celebrate them alongside the city at La Feria de la Guitarra if you visit in early August. Palizada, Campeche, is famous for its multicolored houses and the vibrant theater and music scene of Benito Juárez Park. Meanwhile, San Cristóbal de las Casas offers a window into Mexico’s colonial past with its bold architecture, but is also known for its rich indigenous population and their traditional culture and crafts.
Latvia, an underrated Baltic gem
Not as well-known as its Baltic neighbor Lithuania, Latvia is a fascinating Eastern European nation that’s rarely oversaturated with tourists. Riga, the capital, is more than 800 years old and features a fascinating blend of medieval historical sites, UNESCO-recognized Art Nouveau architecture, and a unique musical community showcased annually at the Latvian Song and Dance Festival.
Other major Latvian attractions fall outside the big cities (though rock and pop music lovers should stop by Liepaja). These include the medieval ruins at Cesis, Kuldiga’s waterfall (Europe’s widest), and the strange but intriguing swamps inside Kemeri National Park.
Underwater treasures in Belize
If you wish for harmony with nature on your next vacation, Belize offers plenty — especially off the coast. The nation’s 190-mile (300km) portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System must be seen to be believed. The same goes for Glover’s Reef, Turneffe Atoll, and the coral ring/sinkhole aptly called the Great Blue Hole. Expect to see almost 100 coral species and at least 500 fish species, from small parrotfish and queen angelfish to nurse sharks, manta rays, and stingrays (not to mention sea turtles).
Because it’s utterly gorgeous and manageable for snorkelers and scuba-divers of all skill levels, Belize’s Barrier Reef is very popular. For 2025, your best bet is checking it out at the end or beginning of the dry season, in mid-to-late May or early November.
The wildlife wonders of Madagascar
Over 80% (and possibly up to 90%) of Madagascar’s flora and fauna is endemic to the island nation. Once you’re there, you don’t have to be a zoologist to immediately realize you’re in one of Earth’s truly unique places. Lemurs are perhaps the most famous example, as Madagascar hosts more than 100 species of them, but it’s also the only home of the fossa (picture half-cougar, half-mongoose), the tenrec mammal family, and two-thirds of all chameleons.
The country works hard to protect its biodiversity, and you can best observe it in less crowded settings. Ankarafantsika National Park, near Andranofasika, is notable for its wide-ranging geography; its lemurs, crocodiles, and birds are distributed across dense forests, sparse plains, and lakes considered sacred to indigenous locals. Along the coral reefs by volcanic island Nosy Komba, you’ll see endemic fish meet dolphins and sharks. And on Nosy Ve, you can either explore the reefs or check out hundreds of bird species on land, including the extremely uncommon red-tailed tropicbird.
Illuminated Iceland
When it comes to planning where to travel in 2025, two words explain why Iceland belongs among the top trending destinations: Aurora Borealis. Per the concept of 11-year solar cycles, the very end of 2024 and nearly all of 2025 represent a peak. So, the arresting phenomenon of blue-green light will be brighter than ever in all areas of Scandinavia where it’s visible.
Visiting Iceland in January, cold as that’ll certainly be, gives you arguably the best view of the Aurora in the world. The outskirts of Reykjavik offer incredibly dark night skies if you want to stick to the city. But don’t overlook natural marvels like the bisected tectonic plates in Thingvellir National Park, the awe-inspiring Skogafoss waterfall, or the Vatnajokull glacier area.
Maramureș: well-preserved cultural history in the Romanian mountains
Romania’s portion of the Maramureș region (the northern half is in southwestern Ukraine) lacks the mythic background of certain other parts of Transylvania – but it still makes for a fascinating Eastern European getaway.
Enshrouded in thickly forested mountainous terrain, much of Maramureș County feels like it’s from another time. The rural residents (mostly everyone outside the cities of Baia Mare and Sighetu Marmației) live in tiny villages, farming the bulk of their food and hewing closely to centuries-old local traditions (especially in their dress). But as they’re far removed from urbanized Romania, the people of Maramureș are often joyful, and you could easily stumble into a local festival and get the chance to enjoy folk dance, music, and classic cuisine (the tochitura pork stew and sarmale stuffed cabbage rolls are must-tries).
Then there are the churches and monasteries — at least 60 of them, mostly wooden-constructed but still standing after hundreds of years. The Church of the Presentation in Bârsana, constructed in 1720, is arguably most famous of these, but all of them are worth seeing.
Ancient marvels of the Saudi Kingdom
Saudi Arabia strikes an intriguing balance between its past and its ultra-modern present. Cities like Riyadh, Buraydah, and Jeddah offer the best of both worlds, but the most fascinating sights you’ll see are windows into the past – that’s why, on our list of where to travel in 2025, Saudi Arabia is a firm favorite.
Old Jeddah (Al-Balad), for example, features striking Islamic architecture in bold colors. Further outside the cities, far more ancient places like Jubbah (dating back over 7,000 years) and the sites around Al-Ula give evidence of the pre-Muslim Nabatean Arabs, Dedanites, Achaemenid Persians, and other bygone civilizations.
Make it happen
Have you narrowed down on where to travel in 2025? Our local experts are readily available with on-the-ground knowledge that’ll help make your 2025 vacation(s?) truly unforgettable. Get in touch with them whenever you’re ready to start planning.
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