The events of 2016 made even the most positive among us want to escape to somewhere far, far away. And since there’s no better cure for January blues than having a holiday on the horizon, we suggest you get booking. Ahead, 10 well-travelled experts share their must-visit for 2017. Whether you’re a sun worshipper, adventure junkie or culture enthusiast, this selection is likely to cause a serious case of wanderlust.
From the tropical beaches of Nicaragua to the misty mountains of Washington State, click through to see the 10 expert-endorsed destinations.
India
Tamara Heber-Percy, cofounder ofMr & Mrs Smith
India is on the top of my list for 2017. There's a huge amount of buzz around the country at the moment and it's such an incredibly varied destination.
For a different – and truly memorable – take on the country, experience a Shakti stay up in the Himalayas: less hotels, more customised journeys into the Indian mountains where you spend your days adventuring and your nights in a series of boutique basecamps.
Then there’s the unique, Indian-style safari at Jawai Leopard Camp. I'd also love to stop in the city of Jodhpur to stay at Raas – it's a beautiful hotel with a delicate blend of old right in the heart of Rajasthan.
Further afield, there's Jamtara Wilderness Camp where you can have the unforgettable experience of sleeping under the stars at Pench National Park. Or in the south, there's a rice barge that’s been given a contemporary makeover, called The Lotus, that will transport you decadently along Kerala's backwaters.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Bennett.
Peru
Daisy Bird, founder of luxury travel PR agency,Bird PR
Top of my travel hit list for 2017 is revisiting Peru, the birthplace of my travel obsession as an 18-year-old backpacker. I’d take the new BA flight straight to Lima and check into super chic bolthole, Hotel B, which is a far cry from my backpacker jaunts, with five beautiful new suites attached to the Lucía de la Puente art gallery. I’d hit up my friends at Aracari Travel – my go-to ‘fixers’ in Peru – to arrange a Vespa tour around Lima’s flourishing food and cultural hotspots with one of their specialist insiders and a trip to Tacama to spend the day roaming the country’s most iconic winery and staying overnight at the owners’ exquisite family hacienda.
Seriously exciting for 2017 will be reaching the magnificent pre-Incan ruins of Kuelap by a brand new cable car and being among the first guests on Peru’s very first luxury sleeper train, the Belmond Andean Explorer, travelling along one of the world’s highest train routes while taking in the wonders of Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon and kicking back in serious style!
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Bennett.
Japan
Serena Guen, founder and CEO of travel magazine,SUITCASE
Japan is the place to be next year. Unlike so many other countries tipped for 2017, its tourism industry is actually prepared to receive an influx of enthusiastic travellers.
Art lovers should head to the Benesse Site Naoshima, skiers to Hokkaido, fans of Eat, Pray, Love should make a pilgrimage to the Kumano Kodo trail outside Kyoto and design lovers to Osaka.
There is a range of high-quality accommodation options for all kinds of travellers, from traditional ryokans to the new Aman, which comes with an outdoor onsen bathing tub for each room. Don't leave without doing karaoke.
Photo: Sanchai Loongroong/Getty Images.
Milaidhoo, Maldives
Rachel O'Reilly, head of communications at luxury worldwide travel company,Kuoni
I was tantalised by images of Milaidhoo, a new five-star resort about to open in the Maldives, earlier this year at the launch event. It’s an emerald drop of paradise wrapped in soft white sand, surrounded by vibrant coral reef, lapped by warm turquoise water and hidden in the heart of a UNESCO biosphere reserve. I love snorkelling so the coral reef, which is a protected area and noted as an outstanding snorkelling and diving site in its own right, is a big lure for me. Its whole sustainable ethos is really appealing too, with Maldivian cookery classes using the finest fresh ingredients and learning to catch a tuna with a local fisherman. The authentic design throughout is very natural and the water villas simply stunning, with private infinity pools. When the weather is dreary and grey in January, I’m going to dream myself here.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Bennett.
The Cascades Mountains, Washington State
Anna Hart,adventure travel writer
As a Twin Peaks superfan I’m desperate to revisit the misty, atmospheric Cascades mountain range of Washington State for a more thorough exploration before the new series of David Lynch’s cult masterpiece airs in 2017. The Pacific Northwest is about as cinematic and moody as landscapes get; shots like this never fail to send a shiver down my spine.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Bennett.
Nicaragua and Costa Rica
Lucy Williams, blogger atFashionMeNow.co.uk
I'm forever torn about wanting to explore exotic lands a long-haul flight away and not forgetting the gems we have closer to hand from the U.K. I've still yet to make it to Copenhagen and would love to finally get to the Greek island of Paxos, or Puglia in southern Italy.
Central America is definitely on my hit list this year and I'm planning a birthday trip at the end of January. I've heard great things about Maderas Village in Nicaragua and also Santa Teresa and Nosara in Costa Rica. That mix of jungles, great beaches and a laid-back atmosphere really appeals. I've got my sights set on The Harmony Hote l over there for some serious R&R with daily surfing, yoga and healthy food.
As for my ultimate bucket list destination? It's been Amangiri in Utah for as long as I can remember... The landscape, the design, the views and horse-riding around the desert. Sounds like heaven to me.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Bennett.
Garfagnana Valley, Italy
Mark Hodson, editor of101 Holidays
Tucked between the Apennines and the Apuan Alps, the Garfagnana is an idyllic valley in northern Tuscany rarely troubled by tourists. Fly into Pisa (Easyjet, Ryanair, BA), rent a car, spend a day or two wandering around the walled town of Lucca then drive into the valley for superb hiking, mountain biking, rock climbing and kayaking on crystal-clear lakes. Stay at one of the many local agriturismi, such as Le Casine di Braccicorti, a small farm run by a charming Italian-British couple.
Photo: Andrea Pistolesi/getty Images.
Jordan
Sarah Reid , editor ofecotravelist.com
Jordan has charmed intrepid travellers for centuries with its dramatic desert landscapes, ‘dead’ sea, and breathtaking heritage sites. Thanks to regional instability over the past few years, however, many travellers have scrapped this fascinating country from their must-visit list. It's their loss, because Jordan remains a safe haven in the middle of a volatile region. Without huge tourist crowds to contend with at the moment, there’s no better time to go – and help the local tourism industry get back on its feet – than now.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Bennett.
Rwanda and Zimbabwe
Joanna Cadbury , PR director at travel PR agency,Grifco PR
My top tips for 2017 are Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Having been off limits to tourists for many years and in the limelight for all the wrong reasons, both countries have shown remarkable resilience and courage and are now gaining attention once again, this time in a very positive way, among curious and adventurous travellers.
Wilderness Safaris, Africa’s foremost luxury ecotourism operator, is leading the way in both destinations with two sensational lodges that are now firmly on my bucket list. Ruckomechi Camp in Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools reopened a few months ago after a gorgeous refurb and offers exclusive access to a spectacular stretch of the Zambezi river.
When Bisate Lodge in Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park opens in June 2017, not only will it be the most exclusive and only sustainable luxury camp in this beautiful region, it will offer a truly extraordinary gorilla conservation experience.
Photo: Courtesy of Elizabeth Bennett.
Miami
Michelle Lau, head of communications forSwire Hotels
My must-visit destination for 2017 has to be Miami, it's nice and warm, culturally rich and super cool. More specifically on my hit list is Brickell City Centre, the newest neighbourhood to be reinvented following an $1.05 billion revamp. I'm keen to explore all the new galleries and shops that have sprung up in Brickell – featuring lesser-known South American designers and local artists for the first time. I'd stay at EAST, Miami, Swire's newest hotel. This way I'd beat the queues for Sugar, Miami's hottest new rooftop bar on the 40th floor with views of Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. I'm also desperate to sample Quinto La Huella again, the first outpost of Uruguayan beachfront restaurant, Parador La Huella. So move over South Beach, it's all about BCC in 2017.
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