Are you ready to start ticking off your bucket list? From watching the sunrise over the Angkor Wat in Cambodia to seeing the pyramids in Egypt, you’ll find a host of wonderful far-flung destinations to discover in 2025. They say 'Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer', so we’ve handpicked some of the best travel experiences and destinations in Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East for you to tick off your bucket list.
Top travel experiences in Europe:
1. Ride a Gondola in Venice
A popular day trip from Lake Garda, the beautiful floating city of Venice, known as 'La Serenissima' or 'the most Serene,' is filled with winding canals, ornate bridges, and stunning architecture. No visit to Venice would be complete without a gondola ride—gliding through the city’s narrow waterways, past centuries-old palaces and charming piazzas.
2. Visit La Alhambra
The UNESCO-listed monument complex of La Alhambra, with its magnificent palaces, patios, and gardens, is one of the best attractions in Spain to see. Perched on a hilltop in Granada, this iconic site was originally built as a small fortress in 889 AD and was later transformed into a lavish royal palace by the Nasrid dynasty in the 13th century. You can visit La Alhambra on our Highlights of Andalucia tour. For full availability on trips to Spain, find all our holidays to Spain here.
3. Enjoy a Pastel de nata in Lisbon
The Pastel de nata, a tasty pastry, was created in Lisbon! Portugal’s capital has a fascinating heritage, the city itself is extremely beautiful. With stunning pastel-coloured buildings, neoclassic architecture and mosaic-paved streets. It’s one of the best places in Portugal to visit.
4. Learn more about Ancient Greece
The land where civilisation began, a holiday in Greece can offer historical sites and archaeological wonders. See the Acropolis, an ancient citadel perched on a hilltop overlooking Athens and visit Thessaloniki, the cultural capital of Greece.
5. Experience an Amalfi boat tour
If you’re staying in Sorrento for one of our holidays to Italy, exploring the Amalfi Coast by boat is a must do, as it offers a unique perspective of this stunning coastline. Cruising along the sparkling turquoise waters, you can visit charming seaside towns like Positano and Amalfi.
6. Shop in the Grand Bazaar
On a trip to Istanbul, the Grand Bazaar is a must-visit, offering a vibrant shopping experience in the world’s largest and oldest covered market. With over 4,000 shops, this historic bazaar has been a melting pot of cultures for centuries, drawing traders from all over the globe. Today, it remains a meeting point of East and West, where you can find everything from spices, jewellery, and textiles to unique handicrafts.
7. Catch the Northern Lights in Iceland
Iceland, the Land of Fire and Ice, is full of natural wonders and it offers one of the best opportunities to see the Northern Lights. Visit Iceland and see volcanic landscapes, breathtaking waterfalls and relax in the geothermal waters of the Blue Lagoon.
Top travel experiences in Asia:
8. Sail on a Ha Long Bay cruise
Hạ Long Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stunning natural wonder, means "descending dragon" and is quite possibly one of the most beautiful places in the world. It’s just one of the many highlights of Vietnam.
9. Admire the Taj Mahal
A trip to India isn’t complete without visiting the mighty Taj Mahal. One of the new 7 Wonders of the World, the Taj Mahal is a mausoleum in the Indian city of Agra. The Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan commissioned this iconic building to house the tomb of his favourite wife.
10. Walk along the Great Wall of China
One of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and arguably the top highlight of any holiday to China, this engineering marvel stretches over 13,000 miles across northern China. Walking even a small part of this iconic landmark offers breathtaking views of the surrounding landscapes.
11. Watch the sunrise at Angkor Wat
Experiencing sunrise at Angkor Wat is one of the most unforgettable moments on a Cambodia tour. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s a stunning 12th-century temple complex that showcases Khmer architecture and is the world’s largest religious monument. Beyond Angkor Wat, the wider Angkor Archaeological Park features other impressive temples, including Bayon and Ta Prohm.
Top travel experiences in Africa & The Middle East
12. Cruise the Nile to discover Ancient Egypt
The best way to see all the top places in Egypt is to take a guided holiday. Visit the Pyramids of Giza before embarking on a cruise down the Nile and discover more historical treasure troves of Ancient Egypt, such Luxor and Aswan.
13. Experience an African Safari
One of best travel experiences in Africa is to search for the Big Five, which we can do so in Kariega Game Reserve on our South Africa holidays. There are also plenty of other activities and sights to discover in the Rainbow Nation, find out more in our top highlights of South Africa blog.
14. Explore the ancient city of Petra
A holiday to Jordan wouldn’t be complete without exploring this ancient wonder. The UNESCO-listed city of Petra, founded over 2,000 years ago by the Nabataeans, is renowned for its stunning rock-carved monuments, including tombs, houses, the Ad-Deir Monastery, an amphitheatre, and the iconic Treasury building, famously featured in ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
15. Discover Deadvlei & the Dunes of Sossusvlei
If you want to experience otherworldly landscapes, then a trip to Namibia could be perfect. The dunes of Sossusvlei, including the towering Big Daddy—one of the tallest sand dunes in the world—offer stunning views. Nearby, Deadvlei enhances the scene with its white clay pan and ancient, blackened trees, creating a hauntingly beautiful contrast that feels like stepping onto another planet.
Top travel experiences in North & South America
16. See the mighty Iguazu Falls
Straddling the border between Brazil and Argentina, there are a total of 275 waterfalls that make up the magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Site Iguazu Falls. On our guided Brazil and Argentina tour, you’ll have the opportunity to explore both sides of the falls and experience this incredible wonder up close.
17. Take a classic car tour in Havana
The classic 1950's cars are famously associated with Cuba; from 1959 to 2013 there was an import ban on cars into the country. Havana's official nickname is ‘Ciudad de la Columnas' or the City of Columns, due to its Colonial architecture. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1982 and we think on your Cuba holiday that the best way to explore this historic city is by vintage car!
18. Journey through the Rockies
The Rockies are a must-visit for their breathtaking scenery, including Lake Louise in Banff National Park, renowned for its striking turquoise waters and stunning mountain backdrop. One of the many highlights of our Western Canada & the Rockies tour is a snow coach ride on the Athabasca Glacier, an incredible way to explore this part of the Columbia icefield. If you want to see more of the Great White North, then check out our blog post on the top 10 places to visit in Canada.
19. Marvel at the wildlife in the Galapagos
From giant tortoises at the Charles Darwin Research Station to snorkelling with penguins at Bartholomew Island and spotting vibrant land iguanas on South Plaza Island, a Galapagos islands tour offers an abundance of wildlife encounters.
20. Uncover the Caribbean charm to Colombia in Cartagena
For many, the Caribbean isn’t the first image that springs to mind when they think of a holiday in Colombia. However the coastal city of Cartagena boasts colourful colonial architecture, lively cobblestone streets, and vibrant plazas, all set against the backdrop of the turquoise Caribbean Sea.
We hope some of these best travel experiences have inspired you for 2025, we offer escorted holidays to over 100 places worldwide and our team is always on hand to help you choose your dream destination.
