10 of the best places to visit in the world
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Must-visit destinations seem to be a dime a dozen these days, yet many are overrated or over-touristed.
Having been a travel writer for 15 years, I’ve been to my fair share of these too.
Fortunately for curious travellers, there are plenty of extraordinary alternatives, such as Svalbard in Norway and the Gobi desert in Mongolia.
So to help you travel beyond the ordinary, this list of the best places to visit in the world is all about the destinations that will make you go, “wow, this is really different”, and the ones that you’ll want to go back to again and again rather than tick off and forget.
And for the places you already know, I’ve suggested brilliant tours that will take you past the gateways.
The list is of course far from exhaustive, but it should offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for nature and adventure or culture and great food.
Coastal Jamaica
There’s stiff competition in the Caribbean for the best beaches but Jamaica stands out for its raw, undeveloped beauty – and it helps that prices can be a bit lower.
While all-inclusive resorts dominate Montego Bay and Negril, this is an island with many more hidden bays, where emerald waters lap at sugar-fine sand and hardly anyone is around to see it.
In between them are small roadside shacks serving up every variation of jerk you can think of, and all are equally delicious.
Try the beach at Frenchman’s Cove Resort, or Blue Lagoon, which is surrounded by private villas save for the treehouses of Kanopi House.
Aim for December to May to avoid the hurricane season.
How to do it
There are direct flights to Jamaica with British Airways*. Stay at Kanopi House*, which has rustic treehouses surrounded by rainforest, and guests have use of the kayaks on site.
Alternatively join the ten-day, small group Explore Jamaica tour from Explore!*. It traces Jamaica’s coastline, and includes visits to the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston.
Svalbard, Norway
Blue-tinted glaciers, vast ice fields and pristine fjords – these are the defining features of Svalbard, a Norwegian territory located deep in the Arctic Circle, between the mainland and the North Pole.
It might sound cold and inhospitable, but this tundra landscape is home to polar bears, Arctic foxes and its own subspecies of reindeer.
So a visit here is very special indeed, and that’s before you add in the northern lights from autumn to spring, or the midnight sun from the end of April to the end of August.
How to do it
Flights to Svalbard usually transit through Oslo, and there are a limited number of options available.
Try Expedia*, which offers ATOL protection when you book flights and accommodation as a package.
Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg* is a lovely property converted from abandoned oil rigs in Longyearbyen, the world’s northernmost town.
You can also go by cruise. HX specialises in expedition cruises to the polar regions and has a 14-day Circumnavigating Svalbard* itinerary.
Arizona, USA
The likes of Yosemite and Yellowstone might steal the limelight when it comes to US national parks, but the state of Arizona has some surprises up its sleeve.
There’s the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon, of course.
But arguably the most intriguing of the lot is Petrified Forest National Park, where you can see Triassic fossils that are over 200 million years old, and entire forests that look like they’re made from colourful stone.
Elsewhere, Route 66 cuts through the state and you can build in post-hike soothing soaks in natural hot springs at Castle Hot Springs in Morristown.
Spring and autumn tend to be the best time of the year to visit, although of course it can depend on where you go.
It’s easy to do on your own or as part of a guided tour. Just bear in mind there can be a lot of driving involved.
As for hotels, the options are varied, spanning from budget campsites to luxury resorts.
How to do it
There are direct flights from the UK into Phoenix, Arizona, and you can pick between British Airways* and Virgin Atlantic* – the flight will probably be a code-share operated by their respective US partners though.
You’ll need a hire car. I’ve personally had good experiences with Rentalcars.com* – it shows prices from multiple car hire companies.
As for where to stay, it will very much depend on where you want to go.
Arizona is a big state so expect several hours of driving each day, and a whole day or even multiple days at each national park.
As an alternative, Globus has a nine-day Lost Canyons of the Southwest* coach tour that covers the highlights of Arizona.
It includes visits to the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest National Park, and Sedona among others.
Gobi desert, Mongolia
Covering a third of Mongolia and straddling parts of China, the Gobi desert isn’t what you’d expect of a desert at all.
Yes, there are towering sand dunes here, but rather than being hot all year round, the Gobi’s northerly position – it’s on the same latitude as France – means it also gets cold enough for frost and snow.
This expansive landscape is surrounded by mountains and grasslands that sustain wildlife such as snow leopards and Gobi bears, and is home to nomadic Mongolian tribes.
Oh, and it was once home to dinosaurs, with extraordinary hauls of dinosaur eggs found at the Flaming Cliffs.
Hotels here are largely tented camps and the region’s remoteness means it’s much easier to join a tour than venturing out on your own.
Aim for spring or autumn for the best weather.
How to do it
There are no direct flights from the UK to Mongolia but you can get connecting flights to the capital Ulaanbaatar – check Expedia* for options.
You’ll most likely transit through Turkey or China.
I’d recommend travelling with a tour operator like Exodus Adventure Travels to take the hassle out of on-the-ground logistics.
They offer a really special 17-day Mongolia Golden Eagle Festival* tour to Mongolia that includes visits to the Gobi desert.
It coincides with the Mongolia Golden Eagle Festival, where Kazakh eagle hunters compete in horse riding tournaments and put the skills of their birds of prey to the test.
Sichuan, China
Sichuan, in southwest China, is starting to emerge from the shadows of more famous tourist destinations like Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai.
I am biased of course – the provincial capital and gateway city of Chengdu was where I was born.
While giant pandas and Sichuan’s famously spicy cuisine are what draws people here, it’s the landscapes outside of the main cities that will captivate.
Like Jiuzhai Valley National Park, where emerald pools and waterfalls look so perfect they appear to be photoshopped.
Or the serene Mount Qingcheng, a sacred site for Taoism, the Chinese philosophical religion that focuses on balance and longevity in life.
Not all hotels in China accept foreigners so an international chain is your best bet if you’re travelling independently.
Outside of Chengdu, it’ll be easier to join a tour as there are far fewer English speakers.
How to do it
There are direct flights from the UK to Chengdu with Air China a few times a week, or you can connect through a hub like Paris or Amsterdam.
Expedia* has a list of options.
I’ve long been a fan of The Temple House* because it’s so centrally located and there’s a fantastic vegetarian teahouse restaurant housed in a historic courtyard home.
If you prefer a tour, Wendy Wu has been operating escorted tours there the longest.
It has a 16-day Secrets of Southwest China* tour that whisks you to some of the most scenic corners of Sichuan and Yunnan, with stops in Jiuzhai Valley National Park and Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.
Liguria, Italy
You haven’t tasted pesto until you’ve been to Liguria on northern Italy’s Mediterranean coast, where the Pesto World Championship is held each year in March.
Unlike the lacklustre basils we get in the UK, theirs is a baby-leaf version that’s heady with herbaceous scent.
More than just excellent food, this is a dramatic coastline of small but colourful fishing villages like Camogli and Cinque Terre, vineyards high in the hills, smart harbours that luxury yachts fight to get into and a chic gateway city in the shape of Genoa.
Hotel-wise luxury options cluster around better known stops like Portofino, but budget-friendly options are also plentiful.
How to do it
The gateway to the Ligurian coast is Genoa, served by flagship and budget airlines.
Try trip.com* for flights here as sometimes it offers cheaper flights than if you booked directly with the airline.
Consider Hotel Vis à Vis* in Sestri Levante as your base. It’s about half way along the coast and has gorgeous panoramic views of the coastline below.
Or you could take it slow and take it all in on an eight-day walking tour from Exodus Adventure Travels.
The Walks of the Cinque Terre and Portofino* tour includes, as its name suggests, the stars of the region, Cinque Terre and Portofino.
Gifu, Japan
Three and a half hours’ west by bullet train from Tokyo, the Gifu prefecture is part of an area known as the Japanese Alps.
Hiking rather than skiing is the main sport here. The Nakasendo Trail, which winds its way through traditional mountain villages flanked by pines, is one of the most popular walking routes.
Other highlights include Gero, Japan’s most famous onsen (hot spring) destination, and Shirakawa-go, a Unesco-listed village where you can stay overnight in the Gassho-style (praying hands-shaped) farmhouses.
Spring and autumn are both great times to visit.
Note that accommodation is generally in guesthouses here, which are basic but comfortable, while meals tend to be simple, mostly consisting of rice, preserved fish and seasonal vegetables.
How to do it
There are direct flights from the UK to Tokyo, including with British Airways*.
From there, you’ll need to transfer to Gifu prefecture by train – try to get a window seat on the right as you’ll enjoy a fantastic view of Mount Fuji en route.
Suimeikan* is one of the larger hotels in Gero with a mix of private and public onsen baths. It’s also where I stayed when I visited.
The food at the hotel is excellent and if you have tattoos, make sure you book a room with a private onsen as you may not be permitted inside the public baths.
If you’re thinking about a guided experience, the 14-day Cycling in Japan* tour from Exodus Adventure Travels is a good option.
It incorporates both the Gifu and Ishikawa prefectures, taking in the majestic mountains and the dramatic coast in one trip.
The Nile, Egypt
Thanks to Agatha Christie, few river cruises can claim to be as iconic as those on the Nile river.
But while the scenery is bursting with cinematic quality, it’s the stops along the way that fascinate.
In Luxor, the stones of Karnak Temple still hold paint from thousands of years ago.
And at Kom Ombo, where ancient Egyptians once worshipped crocodiles, a museum filled with mummified reptiles brings history to life.
If you want to see as much of ancient Egypt as possible, a cruise is by far the best way – excursions are generally included and it offers more opportunities to relax if it gets too hot.
How to do it
Your options are near-endless when it comes to Nile cruises but at the top end is a 12-day Splendours of Egypt & the Nile cruise-tour with Uniworld, which includes visits to the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara.
Part of that journey is on the Nile but you’ll also have time to explore on land.
There are direct flights from the UK to Cairo, including with British Airways*.
Queensland, Australia
The Great Barrier Reef hardly needs an introduction but the rest of Queensland on the east coast of Australia has so much more to offer.
To the south, the sun-soaked beaches of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast bookend the state capital Brisbane.
In the middle, Airlie Beach is a launch pad for sailing holidays around the dreamy Whitsunday Islands.
And in the far north, tropical rainforests are lush with wildlife and stories of Indigenous Australians.
Don’t forget the Outback, where the Simpson Desert lies in sharp contrast to what’s perhaps the wettest Australian state.
Queensland is a year-round destination although you’ll get the best weather between May and October.
How to do it
Increasingly, the cheapest flights to Australia are via China – you can have a look at the options on Expedia*.
Queensland’s gateway cities are Cairns or Brisbane, and both can be good options depending on what part of the state you want to visit.
Cairns is closer to the Great Barrier Reef but it’s tiny and there’s not that much to do.
Brisbane is the state capital, and is closer to the beaches of the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast.
I stayed at Crystalbrook Flynn* in Cairns and Crystalbrook Vincent* in Brisbane and would recommend both.
You might want to book the 15-day Queensland Essentials* tour from Indus Travels as an alternative.
It’s a self-drive itinerary that takes you along the coast from Brisbane to Cairns, with several opportunities to see the Great Barrier Reef.
It includes car hire and accommodation, but not activities.
Amazon rainforest, Peru
One of the most biodiverse places on the planet, vast areas of the Amazon remain unexplored and inaccessible.
But for those who want to get a glimpse of this tropical rainforest – a birder’s paradise – Peru is one of the best access points.
There are direct flights from capital Lima to the gateway city of Iquitos.
It’s also here that you can board cruise ships sailing down the Amazon river, offering opportunities to spot pink river dolphins and rainbow-coloured Scarlet macaws.
The region’s remoteness means cruises (more comfortable) or tours (more intrepid) are the easiest and safest way to explore.
How to do it
There are no direct flights from the UK to Peru but Expedia* has a list of connecting flights to the capital Lima.
From there you can connect to Iquitos.
For a dose of luxury, consider Delfin Amazon Cruises, a member of Relais & Châteaux.
It has all-inclusive itineraries that take you into the heart of the Pacaya Samiria National Reserve.
If you’re feeling more intrepid, try the 15-day Inca Trail & the Amazon Rainforest* tour from Exodus Adventure Travels.
It covers all the highlights of Peru and gives you time in the Amazon to explore by boat and on foot.
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