New Year’s Resolutions are notoriously difficult to keep. But resolving to choose a new destination for your holiday in 2020 is an exciting way to join in the ‘New Year, New Me’ trend. It’s fairly effortless too. Need inspiration? Here are our top 15 destinations for 2020.

Croatia

Croatia packs it in when it comes to adventure and active holidays. The Adriatic archipelago delivers some stunning coastlines and ideal conditions to explore them via sea kayak.

Krka National Park has an abundance of stunning scenery as well as cycling and hiking trails with the bonus of refreshing waterfall pools in which to swim or, at the very least, dip your toes.

Morocco

Think Morocco, and you’ll see the burnt orange desert and evocative ancient Kasbahs. It’s a country steeped in history with so much to explore.

Camel riding in the Sahara Desert, hiking in the Atlas Mountains, and sleeping under the stars are just a few of the highlights this wonderfully rich destination can deliver.

South Africa

South Africa offers a range of wildlife safari options – from self-drive elephant experiences to spotting the big five at Kruger National Park.

The Garden Route has amazing scenery and superb oysters. Stellenbosch is known for its vineyards around which you can cycle if you want to balance your tasting virtuously.

Bhutan

Bhutan tightly controls its tourism industry, which naturally limits numbers. Getting off the beaten track and away from the crowd is certainly one reason this country should factor into your choices.

Exploring little-traveled locations is an adventure. Bhutan is rich in culture, scenery, wildlife, and so much more.

Japan

From the mysterious geisha and traditional ryokan to the famous sight of Mount Fuji, Japan offers a vastly different experience. Outside of Tokyo and Kyoto, there’s so much more to explore. Tohoku is one such place, a virtually unknown region of natural beauty with a sprinkle of shrines and temples.

Thailand

The land of smiles is always welcoming. It’s packed with cultural sites, perfect tropical beaches, and wonderfully tasteful food. Opt for culinary tours, cycle tours, scuba diving or snorkeling experiences, eco homestays, or hill tribe treks.

Laos

Rice cultivation, dramatic waterfalls, meandering rivers, trekking, biking, and cultural homestays, Laos packs a lot in. It’s vibrancy ranges from French colonial architecture to Buddhist temples and local markets.

Scotland

Scotland is rugged and wild with plenty of scenery. There are Munros to bag, 3000 ft mountains to climb, lochs to marvel at, and the very scenic North Coast 500 to drive. Plus, there’s so much history, tradition, and of course, whiskey.

If you’re an Outlander fan, you’re going to be in heaven. While the stones of Craigh Na Dun are fictional, many filming locations aren’t.

New Zealand

New Zealand has so much adventure to offer it’s hard to know where to start. Cruise and kayak on the Milford or Doubtful Sound, and you’ll be both dwarfed by the scenery and able to get up close and personal with the wildlife.

Hiking in New Zealand delivers scenery in spades from alpine vistas to dramatic coastlines.

Rwanda

Rwanda is one of the smallest countries in Africa, but the shocking genocide brought it to international renown. Today, memorials and museums depict this history but there’s a lot more to Rwanda. Mountain gorillas, steamy jungles, great lakes, and traditional culture await the adventurer.

Galapagos

Adventure cruising through The Galapagos brings you into Darwin territory. Expect giant tortoise, sea turtles, sea lions, migratory and endemic birds, iguanas, and penguins. Hike, kayak, and even snorkel to get amongst it.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

This year marks 25 years of peace in this region once ravaged by conflict. Both Mostar and Sarajevo offer history, architecture, and a meeting of new and old and east and west. Mostar’s famous Ottoman Bridge and Sarajevo’s abandoned bobsleigh run are both sights to tick off.

Guizhou Province, China

As the tech giants move into Guizhou’s capital Guiyang, the region’s infrastructure has improved, allowing greater access to one of the most isolated areas in the country.

Traditional villages, home to ethnic minorities that have kept centuries-old farming and textile crafts alive, can now be visited. Spinning, embroidery, and batik methods dating back to the sixth century are still practiced there.

Hungary

Hungary is home to the Blue Trail. An epic long-distance walking path that spans history, mountains, and delivers plenty of big vistas. Its 700 miles offer a rite of passage for Hungary’s youthful hikers, but there’s no shame in choosing a section and reveling in its beauty.

Zakouma National Park, Chad

If you love elephants, Zakouma National Park is the place for you. It is home to around 600 elephants and rising. Buffalo, giraffe, servals, cheetahs, and leopards also call the national park home. Camp in the park under canvas or in a rondavel for that true African experience.

And this list is far from exhaustive. Make 2020 the year you step out of your comfort zone. Try something new. Go somewhere different.

I invite you to book a 30-Minute Complimentary Exotic Travel Planning Session. If you are not ready to venture into the wild, start your planning with a free Money-Saving Guide for Traveling.

How far do you go for vacations? Are you comfortable leaving your home country? Where have you ventured abroad? What was the experience like? Are you ready to do it again? Which destination sounds most interesting to you? Please share with the community!