(CNN) – While the pandemic is far from over, many of us hope that 2022 is the year we will finally be able to broaden our travel horizons once again.
And now – following year-end traditions like turkey or thanksgiving – travel publishers are releasing their annual recommendations on where to travel next year.
For the 2022 list, National Geographic editorial teams around the world selected 25 “must-see” destinations. These activities span five categories – nature, adventure, culture, sustainability and family – with a focus on national parks and wildlife, outdoor activities and experiences, travel green calendar and multi-generational trips.
‘Reflect and regroup’
“In many ways, the pandemic has provided a moment for travelers and communities around the world to reflect and regroup how we explore the world,” said George Stone, executive editor of National Geographic Travel. .
“With this year’s list, Nat Geo will be looking at what’s different, new, and inspiring – from the new cycling trail on the Seine in France to Chimanimani National Park, a new national park in Mozambique” sign of the country’s commitment to the environment.”
Explore the highlights of Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island and a paradise for nature lovers.
In the cultural category, Procida, a small island off the coast of Naples, is Italy’s Capital of Culture in 2022, while London’s legendary music hub Tin Pan Alley has enjoyed a recent revival, with the opening of three new music venues.
With the consent of nature, Namibia’s Caprivi Strip is an exciting hunting destination. Once out of bounds due to the protracted border war raging in this area, campsites and safari lodges are now springing up. Visitors can enjoy several extensive national parks, numerous navigable waterways, and an impressively high ratio of wildlife to human inhabitants.
Sun and adventure
Russia’s Lake Baikal is the oldest and deepest lake in the world, contains about 20% of the world’s fresh water, and is currently facing increasing environmental threats from climate change and mass tourism. As Russia continues to encourage visitors to the lake, even amid a pandemic, some locals question whether the pristine environment is being sacrificed for profit. CNN’s Fred Pleitgen reports from a town in Russia, where some say their homes simply can’t accommodate any more people.
The adventurous should try the new 420km La Seine à Vélo bike route that runs from Paris to the sea of Normandy. Or if hiking is your thing, there’s the 147-kilometer Sentier Nepisiuit Mi’gmaq wilderness trail in New Brunswick, Canada. It follows the Nepisiuit River from Daly Point’s Nature Reserve to Mount Carleton Provincial Park.
Skiers and snowboarders should instead make their way to Colorado’s Arapahoe Basin, a high-altitude resort with runs for experts and beginners alike.
For family trips with loved ones, National Geographic’s picks include Turkey’s vast southwestern coast, a lesser-known Mediterranean delight known in the region. in antiquity as Lycia. Sailing is the perfect way to explore secluded coves and coves.
Another sun-seeking option is Bonaire – known, along with Aruba and Curaçao, as one of the ABC islands – close to South America and outside what is considered the hurricane belt. Snorkeling is especially good in the pristine waters, where underwater visibility can exceed 30 metres, allowing for excellent observations of the reef and forgotten shipwrecks.
National Geographic’s ‘World’s Best 2022’ List:
CULTURE
Jingmai Mountain, Yunnan, China
Tin Pan Alley, London
Hokkaido, Japan
Procida, Italy
Atlanta, Georgia
SUSTAINABLE SUSTAINABLE
Ruhr Valley, Germany
Parque Nacional Yasuni, Ecuador
ódź, Poland
Columbia National Gorge Scenic Area, Oregon / Washington
Chimanimani National Park, Mozambique
NATURE
Caprivi Strip, Namibia
Northern Minnesota
Lake Baikal, Russia
Belize Maya Forest Reserve
Victoria, Australia
ADVENTURE
Cycling Trail on the Seine, France
Costa Rica
Nepisiuit Mi’gmaq Trail, New Brunswick, Canada
Palau
Arapahoe Basin, Colorado
FAMILY
Danube River Cruise
Lycia, Turkey
Granada, Spain
Bonaire
East Coast, Maryland
