Sustainable tourism and stargazing, night trains and cycle rides, national parks and cultural capitals, green destinations and World Heritage Sites. As the world starts to open up again, here are our travel picks for the year ahead.
The slate landscape of northwest Wales
In July, the slate landscape of northwest Wales – the region that “roofed the 19th-century world” – became the UK’s newest UNESCO World Heritage Site. During their heyday, Gwynedd’s quarries produced almost 500,000 tonnes of slate a year, transforming the local landscape, economy and culture and shaping the architecture of cities as diverse as New York, Melbourne, Copenhagen and London. Today, a visit to the region provides both dramatic landscapes – ragged slate cliffs, inky lakes, vast quarries – and an insight into a distinctive history and heritage.
DK Great Britain
View BookCosta Rica
Costa Rica has stronger environmental credentials than most: it generates almost 100 per cent of its energy from renewable sources, has reversed the tide of deforestation, protects almost a third of its land, and has an ambitious plan to decarbonise the economy. One of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, it is also a pioneer of ecotourism. The cloudforests of Monteverde, beaches, jungles and waterways of Tortuguero, and volcanoes and coffee fincas of the Central Valley are well known. But for a real adventure, head to the wilder and less-visited southern tip of the country, home to Parque Nacional Corcovado, whose pristine coastal rainforests teem with wildlife, from pumas to scarlet macaws.
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View BookEsch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg; Kaunas, Lithuania; and Novi Sad, Serbia
There will be three – very different – European Capitals of Culture in 2022. Esch-sur-Alzette blends industrial heritage with impressive architecture and plenty of green spaces. Kaunas combines striking modernist buildings from the 1920s and 30s with quirky attractions such as the Museum of Devils. Novi Sad, on the banks of the Danube, has a formidable 18th-century citadel and an array of galleries, museums and arts venues. Each city will host a wide range of festivals, exhibitions and events throughout the year.
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View BookCarretera Austral, Chile
Iceberg-filled fjords and temperate rainforests, soaring volcanoes and smoking volcanoes, the “Southern Highway” winds through some of the most spectacular landscapes in South America. The most memorable – and challenging – way to complete the 770-mile (1,240-km) journey from the city of Puerto Montt in the north to the remote village of Villa O’Higgins in the south is on a bike, though it can also be done on public buses or by car. The Carretera Austral traces the first section of the Ruta de los Parques, a 1,700-mile (2,736-km) chain of 17 national parks designed to promote sustainable tourism in Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.
DK Chile and Easter Island
View BookTokyo, Japan
The city wasn’t able to welcome travellers when it belatedly staged the Olympics this summer, which is all the more reason to plan a visit for 2022. An early morning trip to the frenetic Toyosu fish market, a wander around the shrines and temples of the Asakusa district, an exploration of the world-class museums of Ueno Park, a restorative soak in an onsen, and an excursion to nearby Mount Fuji are just some of the myriad experiences on offer in this metropolis.
Tokyo Like a Local
View BookNew Zealand
For obvious reasons, New Zealand has soared to the top of travel wish lists over the past 18 months and when it opens up to international tourism again there won’t be a shortage of visitors. Aotearoa – the Māori name for the country – has it all: gloriously varied landscapes, diverse cultures, engaging cities, countless outdoor activities, and superb food and drink, as well as a strong commitment to sustainable and responsible travel.
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View BookWinnipeg, Canada
The underrated capital of Manitoba received a major addition to its cultural scene in 2021 with the opening of Qaumajuq, a groundbreaking venue that showcases the world’s largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art. In total, the gallery – whose name means “it is bright, it is lit” in Inuktitut – is home to around 14,000 artworks, including textiles, drawings and carvings. Winnipeg is also the starting point for an epic railway journey to Churchill, an isolated town on the edge of the Hudson Bay where you can spot polar bears and kayak with beluga whales.
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View BookNepal
Tourism is a vital part of the Nepali economy, so the country has suffered a particularly severe hit during the pandemic. As a result, planning a trip for 2022 – when it is safe to do so – will have a really positive impact. And for anyone feeling the need for some outdoor adventure after a period of confinement, Nepal offers unparalleled hiking, mountain biking and whitewater rafting, national parks, such as Chitwan and Bardia, rich in tigers and one-horned rhinos, and a wealth of historic cities and towns.
Where To Go When
View BookEuropean sleeper trains
Several new sleeper train routes have recently been launched or are in the pipeline for 2022, offering travellers a more sustainable, slower-paced, and romantic way to explore the continent. The following two are due to start in December 2021: Paris to Vienna via Munich and Salzburg; and Amsterdam to Zurich via Cologne and Basel. And they are set to be joined by an overnight service between Zurich and Rome in December 2022.
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View BookNew River Gorge National Park and Preserve, USA
This slice of West Virginia became America’s newest national park in December 2020. Spanning more than 109 square miles (283 sq km), it is centred on the eponymous river, which surges through a precipitous canyon. As you’d expect, the whitewater rafting is excellent, with a series of Class IV and V rapids. There are also plenty of adventure sports options off the water, including rock climbing and mountain biking, as well as a network of hiking trails.
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View BookCounty Kerry, Ireland
Home to the only “gold tier” International Dark Sky Reserve in the northern hemisphere, the rugged coast of County Kerry in southwest Ireland is a stargazing hotspot. A range of mountains and hills, combined with the vast expanse of the Atlantic ocean, help to shield the area from light pollution. As a result, on a clear night, thousands of stars, constellations, nebulas, galaxies and clusters are visible with the naked eye.
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View BookSouth Africa
The country’s sensational national parks rank among the finest in the world. While big-hitters such as Kruger and Addo Elephant National Park are famous for the so-called “Big Five”, other areas are home to equally fascinating, but less heralded, creatures. Travellers can help to safeguard pangolins – the world’s most trafficked animals – at the &Beyond Phinda reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, spot African penguins on Boulders Beach in Cape Town, and search for Cape mountain zebras – a rare species endemic to South Africa – at Mountain Zebra National Park in the Eastern Cape.
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Why January is the best time to go to Costa Rica
Find out why Costa Rica is at its best in January, with temperatures ripe for exploring all there is to see across the country including an astonishing range of wildlife.