Our world is filled with incredible things to see. From breathtaking landscapes, to foreign cultures, to exotic foods, to unique animals, there’s no shortage of amazing things to experience. While there’s a huge number of great destinations where you could choose to travel this year, we’ve broken down our top 10 most beautiful places to visit in the world.
India
If you’ve never been to India, it should be on the top of your list for places to visit. This vast country truly has it all and no matter where you come from or what you are interested in, there’s something for you to enjoy. There’s over a billion people that live there, and the diversity of people, religion, architecture, and landscapes is second to none. Whether you’re interested in beautiful beaches, booming cities, remote villages, massive mountains, India has so much to offer it tops our list of most beautiful places to visit.
Recommended Journey: High Road to Kashmir
We offer a big variety of trips to India, but the High Road to Kashmir is one of our favorites. There’s a reason National Geographic Traveler rated it as one of the tours of a lifetime. From an epic flight over the Himalayas to the houseboats of Kashmir, this experience with be nothing short of unforgettable.
Georgia (Country)
Atlanta is great, but we’re talking about the small country sandwiched between Europe and Asia. This stunning country is one of Europe’s hidden gems and we’re surprised how often this destination is not on the radar of even the most seasoned travelers. From the glittering waters of the Black Sea to the massive peaks of the Caucasus Mountains, there’s a wealth of beauty packed into the little country of Georgia. There’s also a rich cultural diversity with influences from the Russians, Greeks, Turks, and the Persians. It’s a one of the most beautiful places in the world to travel this year.
Recommended Journey: Land of Myths and Mountains
From the historic old town of Tbilisi, to homestays with Georgian families, to a remote desert monastery complex, you can’t go wrong with this extraordinary trip. This journey takes you to some of the hidden gems of Georgia and a nice appreciation of the local culture. From local world-class wine to delicious typical food, this trip is an amazing experience.
Madagascar
The island of Madagascar is one of the most unique places on the planet. It’s home to 5% of all the world’s known animal and plant species and an absolutely staggering landscape. From pristine beaches, to coral reefs, to dense rainforest, this place is a nature lover's dreamland. One often overlooked aspect of Madagascar is that the human diversity is almost as diverse as the plants and animals. Malagasy traditions come from an eclectic mix of people from East Africa, to Southeast Asia, to Arabia.
Recommended Journey: Madagascar Encompassed
From lemurs, to adventurous 4x4 rides along the coast, to a sunset behind the beautiful Baobab trees, our Madagascar Encompassed tour will give you a great understanding of why Madagascar is such an incredible place. You will enjoy a private riverboat cruise, meet local tribes, and never want to go home!
Burma (Myanmar)
Until a few years ago, Burma was not on anyone’s list for places to travel. However the dark curtain of it’s past has finally been lifted and it’s quickly becoming one of the most rewarding destinations to visit in Southeast Asia. The cuisine alone makes Burma worth visiting, but combine that with the surreal temple complexes, bustling markets, remote hill tribes, breaktaking scenery, and you’ve got one of the mos beautiful countries to visit.
Recommended Journey: The Road to Mandalay
The transportation alone during this journey makes it an experience you will never forget. From taking a boat down the Irrawaddy River to Bagan, to a scenic train ride from Kalaw this journey will provide you with a unique understanding of the immense hidden beauty that Burma has to offer. A country long isolated from the outside world, we show you so many beautiful things that are new to tourism.
Mongolia
Visiting Mongolia is not only an adventure to a distant, widely unknown land, but in many ways a journey back in time. Nearly 30% of the population still live in nomadic tribes and the life of living off the land in a yurt, is vastly different than how most people live today. If you love unspoiled wilderness, wild horses, and warm, welcoming people Mongolia is definitely one of the best places to travel in the world.
Recommended Journey: Land of the Great Khan
Mongolia’s landscapes are incredibly diverse and this great journey is tailored to show you a nice array of different scenery. From walks in Khermen Tsav Canyon to watching wild horses in Hutsai National Park, this journey will show you parts of this world you could have never imagined. You will also get insight into this beautiful country’s people by spending time with nomadic Mongolian families.
Silk Road
An ancient network of trade routes that were used for centuries connecting the East and West, the Silk Road is an area that’s steeped in legend. The Stans are a region which many people know very little about, but it’s an area full of fascinating history and culture. The area of the Silk Road running through Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan is particularly interesting with stunning landscapes, colorful temples, and very unique people.
Recommended Journey: Silk Road Odyssey
A trip spanning four countries, the Silk Road Odyssey starts in Kyrgyzstan, and takes visitors through Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and part of China. National Geographic Traveller once rated this one of the 50 Tours of a Lifetime, and anyone with the sense of adventure to try it will not be disappointed. From visiting nomadic people, to riding horses, to seeing the gorgeous sights of Bukhara, Khiva and Samarkand, this trip will give you a new perspective on the world.
Ethiopia
What was a country well known for famine and poverty and not a place tourists would tend to go, has changed drastically over the last decade. Ethiopia offers new adventures to places previously off limits to visitors, which make for amazing, unique experiences. From the largest market in Eastern Africa to rugged natural landscapes of mountains and plateaus, Ethiopia is a place that surprises visitors with how much there is to see and do. The religious local people can by shy at first, but if you take the time to open up to them it can be a very rewarding experience. This beautiful country of high altitudes, UNESCO sites, and medieval castles should be on every traveler's list of the most beautiful places to visit in the world.
Recommended Journey: Northern Explorer
This incredible tour takes you on a whirlwind of stunning scenery and gorgeous UNESCO sites. Exploring the very rarely visited Tigray Region of Northern Ethiopia and the breaktaking landscapes that come along with it is the highlight for many of our travellers. Combine this with the extraordinary monolithic-rock churches of Lalibela and other historic sites as well as amazing views from the Simien Mountains and you’ve got an amazing adventure holiday!
Vietnam
From the Mekong delta to the jagged mountains of the north, Vietnam is truly a majestic country. There’s a huge variety of things to do and see in this country, from towering limestone islands to ancient imperial cities. The food is some of the best in the region and the people are very welcoming to visitors. The European influence on Vietnam can really be felt throughout the country, but it continues to retain a strong personality. Whether it’s jungle trekking, beaching bumming, caving, riding bicycles or simply exploring cities with beautiful architecture, Vietnam is a place that everyone should see at some point in their lives.
Recommended Journey: Complete Vietnam
This trip is the perfect combination of some of Vietnam’s best highlights as well as some of it’s hidden gems. From coffee plantations in the Central Highlands, to the mystical limestone grotto’s of Halong Bay, the Complete Vietnam trip will give you a very diverse range of things to see and do.
Morocco
There’s something about Morocco that is so enticing and fascinating, that it tends to appeal to nearly every type of person. From the great deserts of the Sahara, to the nearly impenetrable Atlas Mountains, this country has a rugged, but beautiful connotation. Whether it’s exploring the desert on a camel, enjoying the fine beaches of the coast, or spending time in the chaotically beautiful cities, Morocco is a country of contrast and some of the most spectacular scenery in Africa. For those who’ve not yet spent time in this amazing country, it should be on your list of beautiful places to visit.
Recommended Journey: Imperial Morocco
This trip has everything you could want in a trip to Morocco. From the breezy and beautiful city by the sea of Essaouira, to the Marrakesh Medina, to the ancient ruins of Rabat, this trip will give you a taste of what life is like in this extraordinary country. In addition to the unique cities and towns, you will get to discover the surreal dunes and oases of the infamous Sahara Desert.
China
The most populated country on the planet, China offers an incredible amount of diversity in geography as well as history and culture. Some of the oldest civilizations known to man existed in this vast country, and it’s a wide open canvas filled with an endless amount of adventure. From enormous modern cities, to tiny remote villages, China is like nowhere else on earth. It’s a great place to visit for all types of people and appeals to city slickers and outdoor enthusiasts alike. Even if you’ve been once, there’s so many unique areas in China that it’s definitely one of the top 10 most beautiful places to travel in the world.
Recommended Journey: The Chinese Silk Road
This is an amazing trip which starts in Beijing and brings you to the entire other side of the country. You get to see where the Silk Road began on the western end as well as unforgettable sites like the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an. As you venture deeper into the interior of China you will be awestruck by the surreal natural landscapes of lakes and mountains. Whether you’ve visited China before or not, this is a journey not to be missed.
