I’m super excited to share with you my top 20 recommendations for the best places to visit in 2025.
A lot has gone into this list. I’ve pulled from many different sources. And in my humble opinion, these are the destinations you need to check out this year.
Bhutan
First stop: the Bhutan.
Tiny kingdom. Big altitude. Tucked up in the Himalayas. Squeezed between giants—India, China, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal.
For decades, Bhutan kept its doors mostly shut. Tourists? Not really welcome. Now? You can visit—but they don’t make it easy.
Photo Credit: UncorneredMarket.com
You also can’t just wing it. No backpacker hostels or off-the-cuff trekking. You’ve got to book with an approved local tour operator. No exceptions.
But once you’re in—wow. Massive peaks. Stillness you can hear. Temples clinging to cliffs like they’re part of the mountain. (Looking at you, Tiger’s Nest.)
And here’s a wild one: Bhutan doesn’t care about GDP. They track Gross National Happiness instead. Yep—happiness as a metric.
Even cooler? They want to go 100% organic. The whole country. All of it. Most people there are farmers. So if they pull it off? That’s world-changing. This isn’t just a destination. It’s a deep breath.
The Cook Islands
Tucked away in the Pacific, technically tied to New Zealand.
Here’s a fun nugget—“Raro” means “south” in the local tongue. “Tonga” is up north. So Rarotonga? Literally “south of Tonga.” That’s where the early voyagers came from. Polynesians. Sea legends.
Fifteen islands. Some volcanic. Some coral atolls. Tiny on land—just 236 square kilometers. But the ocean territory? Massive. We’re talking over 2 million square kilometers of pure blue.
Think glass-clear water. Coral gardens. Epic diving. Snorkeling that feels like you’re flying. Fly-fishing in the kind of silence you never get at home. And a culture that holds tight to its roots.
I went recently. I’m still not over it. It’s peaceful. Gorgeous. About to get real popular. You’ll want to say you saw it before everyone else did.
The Netherlands
Let’s clear something up first. Holland isn’t the whole country. It’s just a part of it.
The Netherlands is the whole shebang. And yes, it’s awesome.
Also, random fact—Dutch people are skyscrapers. Tallest folks on the planet.
If you’ve never been to Amsterdam, fix that.
The city feels like a postcard that never runs out of stamps.
Canals everywhere. Bikes zipping past. Street corners that smell like stroopwafels and, yeah, maybe something a little stronger. No judgment.
Photo Credit: TravelThru.com
Art nerd? This place delivers.
Van Gogh’s brushstrokes live here. So do Rembrandt’s.
Go to the Rijksmuseum and prepare to feel tiny in front of giant masterpieces.
But don’t stop in Amsterdam.
Head to Rotterdam. It got flattened in WWII. Totally wiped out.
But here’s the twist—it came back bold.
Now it looks like the future showed up early and stayed for coffee.
And if you want to party with the Dutch, mark your calendar for April 27th.
King’s Day. The streets go wild. Boats turn into dance floors.
Everyone wears orange. Like… everyone.
It’s loud, chaotic, and unforgettable. Just the way a birthday party for a monarch should be.
Japan
Floating out in the Pacific. East of the continent. Sharp suits. Old souls. Neon. Nature. Sushi that ruins all other sushi.
This country lives in two time zones. Past and future. One moment you’re sipping tea in a quiet garden. Next, you’re dodging LED billboards in Shibuya like it’s a video game.
But honestly, Tokyo’s always buzzing. Subways are on time. People move fast. Everything hums. It’s overwhelming—in the best possible way.
I finally went. And yeah, it hit different. The food? Absurdly good. The streets? Spotless. The people? Kind, stylish, efficient. Every detail feels intentional.
If you go, here’s a must: soak in an onsen. Natural hot springs are everywhere. It’s not just a bath—it’s a ritual. And after a day of walking ten miles in your new favorite country, trust me, it hits just right.
Morocco
North Africa, yes—but it doesn’t fit in a box.
This place is a collision of continents. A swirl of languages. A mosaic of culture and color.
One minute you’re climbing snowy peaks.
Next, you’re sandboarding in the Sahara.
Then—bam—you’re sipping mint tea by the sea.
Photo Credit: Myfreerangefamily.com
It’s wild like that.
The food? Spiced and slow-cooked. Tagines that taste like someone’s grandma’s secret recipe—because they probably are.
The people? Generous. Proud. Always ready with a story and a smile.
And Marrakesh? Center stage this year.
Named the African Capital of Culture. Expect music, art, poetry, parades—everything but boring.
If you’re curious about Africa but don’t know where to begin, Morocco’s your intro class.
But fair warning: it might just be your favorite chapter.
United Kingdom
Spoiler—it’s not just England.
It’s a whole crew: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and yep, the Isle of Man too.
That’s the “united” part. Makes sense, right?
This place is layered. History baked into every stone.
But also weirdly modern. Like a pub that’s 600 years old… with Wi-Fi.
I’ve been a few times. Keep going back.
Then I took a DNA test and—plot twist—most of me comes from here.
So maybe I’m just wandering around my ancestral backyard.
If you go this year, check out Plymouth.
You know, the whole Pilgrims-leaving-for-America thing?
It’s been 400 years. The town’s throwing a massive history party—over 1,000 events planned.
Old meets new meets very enthusiastic reenactors.
Also, the coast path is expanding.
More trails. More views. More wind-in-your-hair moments.
If you’re into long walks that feel like time travel, the UK delivers.
My list? The West Highland Way. The Wales Way. Hadrian’s Wall Path.
What’s yours?
Ireland
This place gets me. Every single time.
I land, I breathe, and suddenly everything’s softer.
Greener. Wilder. A little bit sideways in the best way.
Ireland isn’t flashy. It doesn’t need to be.
It’s slow conversations. Misty hills. Pubs where the music just happens.
The cliffs look like they’ve been brooding for centuries.
The people? They laugh with their whole face.
And yes—the pints are real, and they flow like friendly small talk.
Galway’s got the spotlight this year.
Cultural Capital of Europe. Deserved, honestly.
It’s this artsy little town on the west coast.
Students. Street music. Storytelling in the rain.
Been twice. Would go again in a heartbeat.
It’s close to the Cliffs of Moher too—so if you’re road-tripping, make Galway your home base.
2025 feels like Ireland’s moment.
And trust me—you want to be part of it.
Costa Rica
This country? Feels like nature made a mixtape.
It’s wild in the calmest way.
Hummingbirds, howler monkeys, volcanoes that grumble in their sleep.
I keep coming back. Can’t help it.
It’s one of the chillest, most dialed-in places I’ve ever been.
Photo Credit: Amoureux-du-monde.com
Stable? Yep.
Progressive? Big time.
Costa Rica doesn’t just talk green—they live it.
You’ve got cloud forests that drip magic.
Hot springs that feel like spa days from the earth itself.
Beaches with sand like ink. Others white as sugar. Pick your palette.
It’s also one of the most biodiverse spots on Earth.
Walk ten feet and the whole ecosystem changes.
Surf? Stretch? Hide in a hammock for days? You do you.
This place holds space for all of it.
Slovenia
Tiny country. Big secret.
Squeezed between some heavy-hitters—Italy, Austria, Croatia—but somehow still flying under the radar.
That’s a win for you.
Want alpine drama without the high prices and bus tours?
This is your shortcut. Same peaks, fewer crowds, and your wallet survives the trip.
You can canyon. You can bike. You can hike into nowhere and still stumble across a bakery.
And yeah, the fly fishing’s legit.
Start in Ljubljana. Chill capital. Feels like someone designed a fairytale and forgot to brag about it.
Then make your way to Lake Bled.
Glacier-fed. Church on an island. Castle on a cliff. Mountains for days.
It looks photoshopped. But it’s real.
And way more budget-friendly than its famous alpine neighbors.
Austria’s cool.
But Slovenia? It’s cool without trying.
Tanzania
This place? It rewired my brain.
I went this year. Climbed Kilimanjaro.
Also went on safari. Still not over it. Probably never will be.
It’s not just a vacation. It’s a full-blown chapter.
The Serengeti? Alive. Endless. Feels like the planet breathing.
Ngorongoro Crater? Like you fell into a painting. With lions. And zebras. And that one elephant who just knows he runs the show.
If you’re planning a proper adventure, this is the one.
Here’s the dream plan:
Fly into Kilimanjaro. Catch your breath.
Head out to the Serengeti or the crater. Let the wild reset your senses.
Then hop a plane to Zanzibar. Or Mafia Island, if you’re into the less-obvious magic.
And fun fact—Tanzania is literally two places in one:
Tanganyika (the mainland) + Zanzibar (the island) = Tanzania.
Mountains. Safaris. Palms swaying over turquoise water.
It’s all here.
And it’s wild in the best way.
Chile
Down south. Way south.
The kind of south where the roads get quiet and the wind sounds older than time.
Patagonia stretches across Chile and Argentina.
Over 400,000 square miles of mountains, ice, and silence. Split by the Andes like a jagged spine.
It’s not polished. It’s not easy.
It’s one of the last places that still feels wild on purpose.
I’ve had this dream—standing there, boots in the dirt, looking up at a sky that suddenly goes dark.
Because in 2025? There’s a total solar eclipse. And one of the best seats on Earth? Chilean Patagonia.
Picture it: you’re in a national park, the sun disappears, and for a minute, the world holds its breath.
That’s the kind of memory that rearranges you.
And I’m hoping to be there when it happens.
India
This place doesn’t whisper. It roars.
Colors so loud they feel like sound.
Smells that punch you in the face, then pull you in for a hug.
Crowds. Chaos. Stillness. All in the same frame.
Over a billion stories in motion.
Mountains in the north. Sand dunes in the west.
Palm-fringed beaches in Goa. Slow, dreamy waters in Kerala.
Photo Credit: TravelToYourNature.com
India doesn’t ease you in.
It grabs you by the collar and says, Look.
One second you’re stunned by beauty.
The next, your heart breaks a little.
And somehow, that contradiction makes total sense.
I went to Rajasthan for the Pushkar Camel Fair.
It was dusty, surreal, and unforgettable.
Hit Jaipur. Wandered Jodhpur. Got lost in Udaipur.
That last one? Udaipur. The lake city. That’s the one that stuck with me.
If you’re craving something that shakes you up in the best way—go.
India doesn’t just show you the world.
It shows you yourself.
Antarctica
The edge of Earth.
Not a country. Not a city. Just ice, wind, and silence.
And a whole lot of penguins who clearly run the place.
This place doesn’t care about your Wi-Fi signal.
It’s the last stop. The bottom of the map. The part you squint at and think, Who even goes there?
Turns out—you can.
It used to be off-limits unless you were a scientist or an explorer with a beard and a sled.
Now? Tour boats leave from Ushuaia or New Zealand.
It’s still not cheap. But it’s not a fantasy anymore.
I haven’t been. Yet.
But it’s calling. Loudly.
And yeah, the price tag is wild. That’s the catch. These trips aren’t vacations—they’re full-blown expeditions.
But if you’re patient, there’s a hack.
Fly to the end of Argentina. Sit tight.
Sometimes, someone cancels. Suddenly there’s an empty seat on the boat—and a much friendlier price.
Wait it out. Watch the weather. Be ready.
Because if you make it?
You’ll stand on a frozen continent where time feels irrelevant.
And trust me—that’s a story only a few people get to tell.
Laos
The quiet kid in the Southeast Asia crew.
Hangs back while Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia steal the spotlight.
But don’t sleep on it.
I went last year. Zero expectations.
Left feeling like I’d stumbled into a secret.
Everything in Laos moves like it’s got nowhere to be.
Buses are slow. People are chill. Even the river just drifts.
It’s not lazy—it’s intentional.
Need a reset? This is the spot.
No rush. No crowds. Just mountains, temples, and the occasional goat traffic jam.
Street food? Ridiculous.
Massages? Cheaper than your coffee habit.
Beer? One dollar. Cold. Everywhere.
And if you’re feeling bold, grab the battered sticky rice dipped in chili paste.
It’s weird. And weirdly perfect.
Laos doesn’t shout.
It hums.
And if you’re backpacking through the region, give it a few days.
Or a few weeks.
You might not want to leave.
Spain
This one’s personal.
I lived there for years. Taught English. Ate my way through every region.
And yeah, part of me never left.
Photo Credit: WanderSomeWhere.com
Spain isn’t just one thing.
It’s 17 different regions. Each with their own vibe. Some with their own languages.
It’s like visiting a country made of tiny countries.
You’ve got flamenco in the south. Pintxos in the north.
Mountains. Beaches. Cities that never sleep. Villages that forgot time exists.
Most people hit Madrid and Barcelona—and they’re cool.
But Spain gets even better when you leave the obvious behind.
Go north.
Galicia. Asturias. The Basque Country.
Green. Moody. Underrated.
Or head inland—Extremadura, Andalucía. Rustic, quiet, real.
But here’s the move if you want to feel Spain:
Walk the Camino de Santiago.
It’s a pilgrimage. 800 kilometers on foot.
You pass farms, forests, stone villages.
You eat bread, walk some more, and talk to strangers who stop being strangers by sunset.
I did it in 2011. Took the coastal route and then cut through the mountains.
Thirty days. Just me, my backpack, and the road.
Still one of the best things I’ve ever done.
Not because of where it took me.
But because of what it gave back.
New Zealand
Yeah, you’ve heard of it.
Elves, hobbits, epic mountains—thanks, Hollywood.
But forget the movies for a sec. This place is real.
And it’s ridiculous—in the best way.
I might be a little biased. My dad’s a Kiwi. I’ve got the passport.
Still, every time I go back, it hits different.
Feels like nature’s personal flex.
You’ve got cities like Auckland and Wellington—laid-back but buzzing.
Then you drive for an hour, and suddenly you’re in the middle of nowhere, and it’s perfect.
Milford Sound? Feels like the earth is whispering.
Queenstown? Adrenaline in a bottle.
You can hike, or as locals call it, “tramp.”
Surf. Skydive. Bungee. Or just sit in a campervan and let the scenery do the talking.
It’s green. It’s wild. It’s clean.
Like someone ironed the wrinkles out of the planet.
Also—I’m working on a full travel guide.
Coming soon. Don’t miss it.
Poland
Poland keeps gaining popularity with international travelers—and for good reason. It’s way more affordable than neighboring Germany, but just as rich in culture.
Skip the big cities like Warsaw and Krakow (though they’re great). Go explore the Tatras Mountains in the south or the lake districts of Warmia and Masuria in the north.
I visited that area last summer and was honestly shocked by how beautiful it was. Also—super budget-friendly.
If you’re looking for a central European trip that’s easy on the wallet, Poland is the move.
Uzbekistan
Didn’t see that one coming, did you?
This place is a time capsule with Wi-Fi.
No beach. No palm trees. Just stories etched in stone and dust.
It was the heart of the Silk Road.
Back when caravans were the internet and spices were currency.
Tashkent’s where you start.
Modern, busy, underrated.
The metro stations? Underground cathedrals disguised as subways. For years, no photos allowed. Now? Snap away.
Next stop—Samarkand.
Hop a high-speed train.
Get off. Look up. Welcome to the Registan.
It’s like standing inside a dream that was hand-painted in the 15th century.
Still hungry for old-world beauty?
Go to Khiva. Then Bukhara.
You’ll lose track of time. Probably your breath, too.
Feeling bold?
Head to what’s left of the Aral Sea.
It’s eerie. Empty. Important.
Feels like the earth’s cautionary tale written in cracked sand.
Uzbekistan isn’t trendy.
And that’s exactly the point.
Sri Lanka
Small island. Big energy.
Just off the coast of India, floating in warm blue.
It’s the kind of place where time forgets to hurry.
Jungles hum. Beaches breathe. Locals smile like they mean it.
It’s affordable, too. Your money goes far.
Your curiosity? Even farther.
Some of my favorite moments?
Watching the biggest herd of Asian elephants wander free.
Riding that iconic train from Kandy to Ella—windows open, hills rolling by.
Tea in Nuwara Eliya, where the mist comes standard.
Beaches near Mirissa that make you want to quit your job.
Also—I met a puppy there.
Found him on the street. Named him Lucky Lanka.
He’s part of the story now.
Alaska
And finally—number twenty: Alaska.
John Muir once said, “Go where we will, all the world over, and we seem to have been there before. But to the lover of wilderness, Alaska is one of the most wonderful countries in the world.”
Couldn’t agree more.
Known as America’s last frontier, Alaska is wild and vast. It borders British Columbia and the Yukon. It’s just across the Bering Strait from Russia. And it’s absolutely unforgettable.
I visited about a decade ago—flew into Juneau and stayed in Gustavus, near Glacier Bay National Park. That trip made a huge impact on me.
If you go, go respectfully. Tread lightly. Be mindful of the culture and the land.
And yes—bring bear spray. There are a lot of furry locals out there who might not love your company.
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