Best holiday destinations for 2024
What do you want to experience in 2024? The world is a big, wide-open place and it can be hard to decide. Here are the top ten destinations that are calling out to us. You might take a river cruise on the Nile to admire tombs and temples, track tigers and join cooking classes in India, immerse yourself in meaningful cultural experiences in Thailand, or enjoy some rest and relaxation mixed with guided nature walks on Australia’s Kangaroo Island.
Pick your destination:
1. India
Tigers, the Taj Mahal & more
The curling smoke of incense, the cinnamon-and-clove sweetness of chai, the bright flash of a tiger’s stripes through the trees, and the soft light of dawn breaking over Agra’s Taj Mahal… any visit to India amounts sensory overload and we love it.
The past few years, we’ve noticed a distinct improvement in the infrastructure for visitors — improved electronic visas, additional flight routes, more reliable trains, and hotels that offer a wealth of immersive experiences. We’re also thrilled to see that sustainability is becoming a higher priority, with more and more options for thoughtful travel.
Because of all this, we believe next year will potentially be a real high-point in Indian travel experiences. You might learn to cook traditional Rajasthani cuisine in Jodhpur, look for tigers in Ranthambhore National Park, or explore Delhi from the back of a bicycle rickshaw.
Get me there: Our Golden Triangle suggested trip lets you explore Delhi, Jaipur, the Taj Mahal, and look for tigers in Ranthambhore National Park.
Extend your trip: Tag on time in Bhutan, where the Trans-Bhutan Trail has recently reopened — you can hike a section when you visit the central part of the country on this itinerary.
Explore India | India tours | India travel guides
2. Canada
As seen on TV
Always a destination on people’s lips, Canada has turned even more heads this year after the success of the Race Across the World TV series, which saw contestants travel from the far west to the far east of the country on a shoestring. As well as showcasing Canada’s grand-scale landscapes, Indigenous cultures, and diverse cities, the series shone a light on the warmth of its people.
While you may not be planning an epic cross-country adventure, we can help you hone in on the places and experiences that capture your interests.
You might like to stand small among sky-punching mountains and hike around the glacial lakes that lie at their feet, join walking tours in Toronto, Montréal, and Québec that focus on their history and food scenes, or adopt a slower pace on a road trip through the Maritime provinces. Along the way, perhaps you’ll call in at Prince Edward Island’s Green Gables Farm to mark the 150th anniversary of author Lucy Maud Montgomery’s birth.
Get me there: Follow our suggested route through the Canadian Rockies, visit the eastern cities by train, or explore the Maritime provinces based on our Maritime treasures itinerary.
Extend your trip: You could combine time in the Canadian Rockies with a cruise along Alaska’s untamed coastline, taking in calving glaciers, whales, and remote Gold Rush towns.
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3. Italy
Follow in the footsteps of Poirot
Whether you’ve been inspired by the recent silver-screen version of A Haunting in Venice or you’re just looking for your slice of la dolce vita, Italy is always one of our best-loved destinations. The art cities draw us back time and again and we never tire of admiring Rome’s ruins, Renaissance masterworks in Florence, or the small canals of Venice.
For adventures a bit further from the classic sights, you might consider a visit to Sardinia to lounge on the beaches and meander through mysterious Bronze Age ruins. Or head south to Puglia to see the white-washed stone houses known as trulli and learn to make bread in a fifth-generation bakery.
Get me there: This in-depth visit to Sardinia includes a chance to explore the enigmatic ruins and the sun-soaked Costa Smeralda.
Extend your trip: Explore two of Italy's islands by combining Sardinia with neighbouring Sicily.
Explore Italy | Italy tours | Italy travel guides
4. Japan
Fewer crowds & Ghibli Park
From the electric streets of Tokyo to the lantern-lit alleys of Kyoto, Japan is always a popular destination. However, last year was particularly busy thanks to a build-up of demand. We expect 2024 to be less hectic, making it a more relaxed and rewarding time to visit.
You might visit the newly opened Ghibli Park to plunge yourself into the whimsical world of animated films like Kiki’s Delivery Service, explore Kyoto’s geisha district with an expert, or sample chankonabe, a hearty meat stew served to sumo wrestlers. We also can steer you to the less-visited cherry blossom sights, like Tohoku.
For something completely away from the crowds, consider visiting Kyoto-by-the-Sea, a centuries-old artisan colony. Here, you can visit a traditional swordsmith, visit a kimono maker who weaves mother of pearl into the fabric, and admire the Bridge to Heaven, considered one of the three best views in Japan.
Get me there: You could visit Ghibli Park on a trip inspired by our family adventure through Japan itinerary idea.
Extend your trip: You might want to spend a few days — or a whole week — exploring South Korea as a family to compare the two countries’ cultures.
Explore Japan | Japan tours | Japan travel guides
5. Botswana
New camps to shout about
Elephant in their hundreds splashing, mud bathing, and quenching their thirst along the riverbanks. Criss-crossing tunnels in the reeds left by wandering hippo. Birds singing, swooping, and preening on the wizened branches of dead trees. A leopard sleeping soundly, belly full, under the shade of an acacia. Welcome to the wilds of Botswana, where animals rule and you’re merely a guest in their kingdom.
While other destinations may spring to mind first when planning a safari, Botswana encompasses everything you’re likely looking for — truly wild spaces, animals big and small, exceptional guides who can read the terrain like a book, and intimate camps that are both luxurious and down to earth. With intimate Sitatunga Private Island recently opening in the Okavango Delta, and Moremi Game Reserve’s Tawana welcoming guests from May, Botswana is already drawing more attention for 2024.
Get me there: This trip idea combines two of Botswana’s richest wildlife areas for an all-encompassing safari.
Extend your trip: Our Cape Town, Botswana, and Victoria Falls itinerary idea shows how you could combine a Botswana safari, a visit to Victoria Falls just over the border, and a city break in Cape Town for an exciting contrast to the delta’s wilderness.
Explore Botswana | Botswana tours | Botswana travel guides
6. Egypt
Multi-generational mystery chasing
From 3,000-year-old tombs adorned with surprisingly bright paintings to an eerie avenue of sphinx statues in their hundreds, a trip to Egypt is all about uncovering ancient mysteries. And we’re finding that the country’s pyramids, tombs, and riverside ruins are capturing the imagination of all ages, welcoming more and more multi-generational family adventurers.
Cairo has also been poised to open its doors to the much-anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum for a while now, and 2024 could be the year that it finally does. Sadly, there are no guarantees, but we can arrange for you to have a guided sneak peek during your Egyptian adventure if you’re raring to visit before its official launch.
Then, once you’ve had your fill of history, you can head to the sapphire waters of the Red Sea to unwind and explore underwater worlds. The palm-fringed sands of El Gouna are a relaxing way to end your trip and are particularly good if you’re travelling with children.
Get me there: Storied tombs, river relaxation, and the frenetic streets of Cairo combine in our Cairo and Nile cruise trip idea.
Extend your trip: Venture from ancient Egypt to the Nabatean Kingdom — the living-rock ruins of Petra in Jordan are just a short flight away, making it an ideal travel combination for history lovers.
Explore Egypt | Egypt tours | Egypt travel guides
7. Thailand
Cultural immersion & secluded luxury
Pristine, palm-fringed beaches abound in Thailand, but there’s much more to uncover. To experience something a little different in 2024, we recommend heading further inland to immerse yourself in the country’s tapestry of cultures.
For example, you could learn how to cook fragrant Northern Thai dishes with a local family in Chiang Mai, try your hand at wicker weaving with a women’s group in Ban Pong Huai Lan village, or stay in a forested hillside ecolodge that aims to conserve the heritage of the local Lisu community.
If you’d like a little feet-up luxury too, Thailand certainly delivers. According to Variety, the country will be home to the next season of White Lotus, with Thailand’s exclusive Four Seasons hotels in the running for the series’ next luxe resort. We recommend the Four Seasons Tented Camp in Chiang Mai for the most secluded stay. And if Sicily’s White Lotus-led tourism boost is anything to go by, now’s your chance to experience the country’s more sumptuous side before season three hits our screens.
Get me there: Use our Thailand cultural discovery trip idea as inspiration for your cultural exploration through the country.
Extend your trip: With a speedy flight from Bangkok into Siem Reap’s brand-new airport, you can easily explore Cambodia’s ancient temples before or after your trip to Thailand — our itinerary idea shows how your trip could take shape.
Explore Thailand | Thailand tours | Thailand travel guides
8. The American South, USA
A feast for the senses
Tucking into tender slow-cooked brisket, soaking in the polyrhythmic tunes of jazz just inches from the band, strolling along kaleidoscopic neon-lit streets brimming with live music bars, and learning the culinary secrets behind home-cooked soul food. The American South is a destination unlike any other in the USA.
Here, it’s not so much about the great outdoors and sweeping vistas as it is the people and cultures that have shaped the country’s past and present. You can delve into food, music, and traditions that span the centuries, and learn about the communities who’ve created them, from rock ‘n’ roll legends to enslaved people and their descendants, whose stories weren’t afforded superstar status but have made an equally important impression on the country.
Get me there: Our discovering the American South trip idea gives you a music, food, and culture extravaganza.
Extend your trip: After tickling your tastebuds and tapping your feet, you can head to South Carolina and Georgia for a coastal retreat with even more Southern delicacies to enjoy.
Explore the USA | USA tours | USA travel guides
9. Chile
Small-ship cruises on the fjords
With its soaring mountains clutched by glaciers, renowned vineyards, and starriest of night skies, Chile is an inviting destination for any wine connoisseur or lover of the outdoors. For next year, though, we’re excited to explore the fjords and channels along the southern coast for a fresh perspective on the country.
We love working with small ships that follow two-, four-, and five-night itineraries, taking you far away from the well-worn tourist trails among scenery that keeps you glued to the deck. Think huge glaciers tinged blue in the sunlight, crumpled mountains that rise like fists from the turquoise waters, and remote fishing villages tucked away on tiny islands.
As you cruise, you might spot humpbacks, South American fur seals, and dense colonies of birds including shags, gulls, and — on the newest route to Chiloé Island — Magellanic penguins. You’ll also get to leave your ship for some guided exploration, whether that’s hikes, village visits, or trips out on small boats to get closer to birdlife with minimal disturbance.
Get me there: Combine trekking and cruising among Patagonia’s show-stealing scenery, using our trip suggestion as inspiration.
Extend your trip: Take advantage of the new flight route between Santiago and Cuzco to explore Peru. We recommend a stay at Puqio, a new tented camp deep in Colca Valley where you’ll get an authentic Andean experience. You could also add on time in Bolivia using this three-part trip idea as a starting point.
Explore Chile | Chile tours | Chile travel guides
10. Australia
A return to Kangaroo Island’s finest stay
We watched the news in horror in early 2020 when bushfires spread across parts of Australia, including Kangaroo Island off the coast of South Australia. Not just home to kangaroos, the island is a protected haven for many animals, including possums, wallabies, fur seals, short-beaked echidnas, and many bird and reptile species.
The damage to the island — and the hotels we offer there — was extensive, but we’re excited to share that one of our absolute favourite stays on the island, if not the country, is reopening this December. Southern Ocean Lodge has had a complete revamp and is set to be better than ever.
You’ll find floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the surrounding bush and ocean. While you’re there, you can head out each day to explore with guides who’ll share their passion and knowledge of the island’s wildlife and more.
Get me there: Our trip idea exploring South Australia’s wine, wildlife, and Outback includes time on Kangaroo Island and in Adelaide, as well as wine valleys and the Flinders Ranges.
Extend your trip: Visit between 16th February and 17th March to experience Adelaide Fringe, the country’s biggest arts festival. We also recommend a stopover in Singapore to admire its futuristic skyline, stroll otherworldly parks, and taste your way through street-food markets.
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