Top 10 destinations for 2020

The remote Faroe Islands lie in the windswept North Atlantic and are part of the Kingdom of Denmark. The volcanic archipelago is beautifully rough with a dramatic coastline of plunging cliffs. Winding roads, tunnels, and bridges connect many of the villages, making any roadtrip a candidate as the most scenic. Watch out for sheep, as they roam free on both the roads and the green slopes. They even provided the famous Sheep View. The Faroe Islands are all about being outside, no matter if it’s windy or wet (both very likely): you’ll be either hiking, riding or watching the cute puffins - or some of the many other birds. The Faroe Islands are so devoted to sustainable tourism, that they chose to close for maintenance every year for a weekend in spring, but stay open for voluntourism. What a great way to attract attention to the issues of sustainable tourism!

Not many have been to Africa’s largest country, but those who have ramble about the friendly people and rich history, not to mention the lack of other tourists. A reason for the last part might have been Algeria’s cumbersome visa process, but there are rumours that a new visa system will be launched in 2020 (whatever that will be). With a visa granted, Algeria will open up as a great mezze of vibrant cities with stunning architecture, UNESCO enlisted Roman ruins, and ancient Berber villages. One Berber valley is particularly famous for its one-eyed women, where married women are dressed in white niqab with only a tiny opening for the eyes. And in the far south you will meet the Tuareg men, who wear the well known blue turbans. The southern part of Algeria is also very fascinating in terms of landscape, because four-fifths of the country is covered by the Sahara, a surprisingly diverse region with stone deserts, giant sand dunes and burnt-red mountains.
Independent travellers are still a rare sight in Algeria and the authorities still don't know how to handle it, but they are polite and will only take your time.

Every year more than 12 million people go on holidays to the spectacular Canary Islands off the coast of Africa. A third of them travelled with the tour operator Thomas Cook, but in 2019 Thomas Cook went bankrupt, leaving more than 500,000 tourists stranded on their holiday destination around the world, including 30,000 on the Canary Islands. The market hasn’t rebounded yet, so if you want to explore the Spanish archipelago without the hords, now is the time. The seven main islands - Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro - are all different and cater to different travellers. Some are mountainous and green, while others have deserts, black lava fields or even an active volcano, that rises to an impressive 3,718 m. Common for all islands are the great sandy beaches, which are still the main focus for most holiday-goers.

Saudi Arabia was until recently one of the hardest countries to visit as a tourist. Tourist visas didn’t exist, and unless you could get a hold of a visa issued for work, family visit or Hajj, Saudi Arabia was a no-go. But suddenly new winds started blowing, and in 2019 an evisa for 49 nationalities was introduced. Not only is the evisa easy to obtain, but it’s also valid for one year for multiple trips of up to 90 days. Furthermore, unmarried foreign couples are also allowed to stay together in hotel rooms, and even single women can get a room these days. Highly religious sites, like Mecca and parts of Medina, are still off limits for non-muslims, but the country boasts of five UNESCO World Heritage sites, two contrasting metropolises, ancient mountain villages and - of course - unbeaten desert landscapes of sand dunes and deep gorges. As the country has never seen independent foreign tourists before, it’s going to be interesting to see if Saudi Arabia is ready for the first wave of travellers.

Islands in the Indian Ocean are normally associated with beach destinations like the Seychelles and Mauritius, but if you want action, go to Réunion. This volcanic island is a hiker’s paradise. The diverse landscape ranges from black sand beaches and tumbling waterfalls to jagged peaks and erupting volcanoes. The mountainous interior is lush and cool, and towns like Hell-Bourg and Cilaos have almost an alpine vibe. The volcano Piton de la Fournaise erupts regularly (last time was August 2019) and the surrounding moon-like landscape offers even more hiking opportunities. Réunion is a French overseas territory, so prices, food and driving is like in France. Try to squeeze in a visit to the even smaller island of Rodriguez, which is connected by flights from Réunion (and Mauritius).

Ethiopia was suffering from famine and war for decades, but it’s now rising from the red dust. Their prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, was even awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for his peace initiative with neighbouring Eritrea. And though Ethiopia might not be rich in terms of wealth, it has the most UNESCO World Heritage sites (9) of any country in Africa. It’s literally filled to the brim with history, culture and natural beauty. To the far north at Danakil Depression you can experience the hottest place on earth, where you walk on sulphuric acid. Ancient kingdoms have left their marks in terms of castles and monuments in spectacular Aksum and Gondar. At Lalibela the iconic rock-hewn churches are a living testament to Ethiopia’s deep roots of Christianity. To the south, the tribes of the Omo Valley still live the same way as they did for centuries. And if you're still hungry for adventure, why not feed some wild hyenas?

Canada’s three territories (Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut) have been active on the tourism front in the past years. Opportunities to visit the Far North and activities on offer have multiplied, making it even more interesting to make the effort to reach these far places. Of course, the main activities here are mostly related to the outdoors (think aurora borealis spotting, kayaking, fishing, hiking, etc.), but you shouldn’t forgo the chance to meet the people who live in the North, understand and enjoy their culture, and see firsthand the impact climate change has on them. You might also be surprised by the number of festivals, museums and cultural events!

When talking about emerging new destinations, spectacular Wakhan Corridor in northeast Afghanistan is slowly making a name for itself. The far-flung sliver of land is squeezed between the snowcapped mountain tops of Tajikistan and Pakistan, and can be entered from peaceful Tajikistan without going through other parts of Afghanistan. The Wakhan Corridor is inhabited by the semi-nomadic Wakhan people, who have villages in the valley, but live a nomadic life during summer on the higher green pastures with their sheep. Their religion is Ismaili Islam, so the women dress less conservatively than their fellow Afghans. Travelling in the Wakhan Corridor usually starts with a rough 4x4 drive from the dusty bordertown of Ishkashim, where you get the necessary permits. Several Wakhan villages have now a community guesthouse for visitors, but if you want to visit their nomadic camps, you need to hike fully geared up with tent, sleeping bag and food. The Wakhan Corridor is also the starting point for a trekking trip to the base camp on Mt. Noshaq (7,492 m), the highest mountain in Afghanistan.

If you are looking for somewhere off the beaten track, look no further. The remote island of Saint Helena is a tiny British overseas territory in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. It has always been one of the least visited places on the planet, since the only way to get there was by boat. But in 2017 the island got an airport and is now connected to South Africa with biweekly commercial flights. However, travellers still need to be fairly determined to visit Saint Helena: the airport is considered very difficult to land in due to unusual wind conditions. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to soothe any nerve-racking arrival, besides hitting the pub. The mountainous island is lush and offers great hiking through its unique nature. There are also a few historical sights, some related to Napoleon Bonaparte, who was exiled here until his death. Make sure to take a dolphin and whale safari, as they are world class, particularly during whale shark season (January to March).

Macedonia got a new name this year. After years of dispute with its Greek neighbour (who's home to a region with the same name), the country is now known as the Republic of North Macedonia. The country itself, though, is still a great off the beaten track destination for curious travellers who like to mix history and nature. Hiking enthusiasts will enjoy the many opportunities the mountainous landscape provides, like Mount Ljuboten or the country's three national parks. Others will love exploring the more than 300 caves throughout the country. History, religion and culture buffs will also have their fair share of pleasures: they will not doubt swing by Ohrid, one of the oldest settlements in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but will probably also enjoy the Painted Mosque in Tetovo, or the many churches, monasteries and Roman remnants scattered around the country. And all of that, without the hordes.