ALTHOUGH TRAVELLING ABROAD was off the cards for most of 2020, National Geographic has created a list of 25 beautiful destinations to inspire your future wanderlust.
The magazine published its ‘Best of the World 2021′ list recently and it includes no shortage of stunning destinations to add to your bucket list.
Split into five categories – nature, adventure, culture, sustainability and family – the list was written in collaboration with the magazine’s international editorial teams.
George Stone, the executive editor of National Geographic Travel, said: “The world is full of wonders—even when they’re hard to reach. Now is the perfect time to discover something new about an extraordinary place or culture in our world and perhaps dream up your next journey, for when that time comes.”
Here is a sampling of some lovely spots included in the list (Ireland did not make the cut unfortunately).
This tiny island was human-free until the 18th century, Nat Geo said. Nowadays, just 400 visitors are allowed to be there at any one time. This helps to protect what is one of the world’s most isolated ecosystems.
It’s less than 12 kilometres long and is at most 1.6 kilometres wide, and is home to the southernmost coral reefs on the planet, not to mention more than 500 species of fish.
Yellowknife is the capital of Canada’s Northwest territories and is a city of just 20,000 people.
The Northern lights shine in this area 240 nights a year, Nat Geo said, and there is also an array of small lakes outside the city to marvel at.
This picturesque German university town is leading the way in terms of best green practices at the moment.
People in this town have readily embraced sustainable living, with woodlands covering 40% of the urban area.
This remote region is based on quite high ground and would definitely be described as ‘off the beaten path’.
However, Nat Geo said it is accessible to those who look for it through the Upper Svaneti section of the Transcaucasian Trail, a long trail across the countries of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Another very remote location, this stunning national park and preserve can only be reached by boat or float plane.
Many people who travel here are seeking out a 1.9 km long fishing hole home to the largest concentration of brown bears in the world.
Located in the southeast corner of the Korean peninsula, this city is home to a lot of archaeological sites due to existing for almost 1,000 years as the capital of the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla, Nat Geo said.
People can visit temple and palace ruins, rock carvings, an eighth-century statue of Buddha and much more in this very historical city.
This Greek island is home to the first underwater museum in Greece, but you’ll need to be able to dive to depth of 24 metres or more to take part.
The museum explores an ancient shipwreck, but it can also be viewed virtually through the information centre on the small island.
Click here to see more of Nat Geo’s Best of the World 2021 list.
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