Top 10 destinations for 2018

Just by being a volcanic island nation in the South Pacific, Samoa sounds like an appealing destination. Delightedly, Samoa's natural beauty does live up to the expectations of paradise. Parts of the islands are wild and covered in lush rainforest, and all the main attractions are natural ones: spectacular waterfalls, natural blue pools, lava fields and caves, and, of course, stunning sandy beaches. But what truly sets Samoa apart from other pretty Pacific islands is the strong traditional culture and lifestyle that still thrive today. Everything the people do, from dancing to tattooing, is done “the Samoan way”. Even you, as a tourist, can sleep “the Samoan way” in a traditional fale, a circular open hut, on the beach.

True, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands weren't discovered yesterday, but due to their remote location in the middle of the Bay of Bengal, they have kept under the radar for most travellers. But things are - as always - changing. So if you want to visit them while they are still underdeveloped, now might be a good time. The main island, Havelock, has a low-key holiday vibe, while the smaller islands are more a one-village place, but common for all of them are the splendid sandy beaches, turquoise water and mangrove forest. This is probably as close as you can get to a true Robinson Crusoe experience in India. Only nine of the 325 islands that make up the Andamans, can be visited, while the neighbouring Nicobar Islands (275 islands) are strictly off limits to tourists, as there are still indigenous tribes living there, who don't want any contact with the outside world.

The Union of the Comoros often makes the top 10 or top 20 lists of the least visited countries in the world. We believe it deserves a bit more attention. Surprisingly, the country's tourism infrastructure is pretty good, on all three islands. But more interesting than infrastructure are the people you'll meet and the natural beauty of the three distinctly different islands. Turtle nesting beach, volcano, tropical forests, medinas, giant bats, and ocean await you. True, it's never entirely idyllic, with litter here and there, but the few trash-free beaches you'll encounter will appear even more magical, especially since you'll have them all to yourself.

Many travellers dream of being able to travel to Tibet freely without permits. Fewer of them know there is another province in China that is also rich in Tibetan culture, has stunning mountainous landscapes, and can be travelled without any permits. The Sichuan Province is an extraordinary region, but any journey west of Chengdu is demanding, as distances are long and mountain passes high (some close to 5000 m). However, it's the far west of Sichuan that is the most rewarding. Every town has a Tibetan monastery (some several) with swirling prayer wheels and monks dressed in red cloaks. The harsh landscape transforms from vast grassland outside Chengdu to snowcapped mountains and alpine lakes near the border to Tibet. Most travellers start their exploration from Chengdu (great for pandas and spicy Sichuan food) and work their way west, but it's also possible to start in Kunming in Yunnan Province and travel north.

After years in the dark, Albania is finally emerging as a tourist destination known for its natural beauty instead of obscure leftovers from a bygone communist era. The Albanian Riviera along the rugged Ionian coast has been known for its splendid beaches for decades, but only recently has Albania's stunning and pristine mountains got the attention they deserved. Hiking and other outdoor activities are slowly setting up and tourist facilities are coming too. However, in the countryside, time seems to have stood still in the rural villages, but that's just an endearing contrast to the fun and vibrant capital Tirana. It might not take long before Albania becomes a well-known destination in Europe, and when it happens, it will certainly be more crowded and expensive than right now.

After two devastating hurricanes in 2017 that left the northern Caribbean destroyed, the region really needs all the tourist money it can get to help recovering. Dominica was hit hard, but since most of Dominica's attractions are natural sights, they don't need rebuilding to the same extent as buildings, resorts and harbours. Mountainous Dominica's trademark has always been the jungle waterfalls and natural hot springs, and those are as gorgeous as ever. Hiking trails, including the Waitukubuli National Trail, are already being restored, so reaching major sights like the unique Boiling Lake (second largest in the world) will again be possible. Maybe due to the lack of long white sandy beaches, Dominica has always stayed under the mass tourism radar, but now you will definitely get the few, but nonetheless beautiful, yellow and black beaches all to yourself.

Of the three Baltic countries, Latvia is the one with the most visible leftovers from the Soviet times, and we mean it in the most endearing and positive way. Parts of Riga still feel like some forgotten corner of the Soviet Union, and there is Stalinist debris scattered across the small country. However, Latvia is also blessed with medieval castles and ruins from its heyday as a trading point in the Baltic region. A section of Riga is UNESCO heritage enlisted for the striking Art Nouveau architecture, and the old town of Riga has become a bit of a tourist magnet itself with lots of quirky bars. Half of the country is still covered in forest with trails perfect for hiking and bicycling. And with the splendid location right on the coast of the Baltic Sea, Latvia can even be considered as a Nordic beach destination, where the long sandy beaches never get seriously crowded.

Not many consider West Africa as an easy destination, but Ghana is just that - and rewarding too. A stable and friendly country with (for the region) lots of sights and with an infrastructure that works (well, for most parts). There are palm fringed sandy beaches, bustling fishing villages and UNESCO enlisted slave forts with the grimmest history you can imagine. But what truly sets Ghana apart are the small things; a walking safari, a waterfall, a village. The Ghanaians are used to foreigners, because of the steady stream of NGOs and volunteers, so travelling can be surprisingly anonymous, particularly compared to neighbouring countries. However, don't restrict your adventures to Accra, Cape Coast and Kumasi - go exploring the north and the east too.

In a time when Eastern Europe is catching up, or even overtaking Western Europe, finding regions with Soviet-era flavour has become more and more difficult, but Kaliningrad can deliver. Though the Russian exclave is located west of the Baltic countries, it hasn't gone through a similar transformation - yet. The old part of Kaliningrad city has a few historic buildings from its glory days has an elegant university city, but there are plenty of drab apartment blocks from the Soviet-era and potholed roads. The main sights outside Kaliningrad city are of similar low-key nature and obscurity; wicked trees and UNESCO enlisted sand dunes. So Kaliningrad is not about what's new, but what's NOT new.
Good news: Kaliningrad is a host city for the 2018 World Cup, meaning you don't need a visa if you have a ticket for a game.

New winds are blowing from Saudi Arabia. The crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, has proposed his Saudi Vision 2030, which will return Saudi Arabia to “moderate Islam”. And things are already progressing. Women have been allowed to drive and the first concert in Riyadh in years has been held (mind you, for an all men audience). But what is more interesting from a traveller's perspective, tourist visas might be introduced in 2018. Up until now, Saudi Arabia has only issued visa for work, family visits, and Hajj, so these news are well received by the passport stamp collectors. However, non-muslims shouldn't expect miracles, for the highly religious sites, like the whole of Mecca and parts of Medina, will still be off limits.
Since we couldn't get visa for Saudi Arabia, the only picture we have is taken at the border between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia on Passport Island.