Lonely Planet has just unveiled its Best in Travel 2027 selection, comprising fifty destinations and experiences chosen from around the globe. “We don’t merely endorse a single travel genre. It’s first and foremost about finding the experience that matches current travel desires (…) This list is above all a showcase of experiences that are accessible and doable, perfect for a weekend,” explains Nitya Chambers, editor-in-chief of the guide, to CNN on Tuesday, September 22.
In North America, the guide highlights Quebec, the redwood forests along the California coast, Maryland, Prince Edward Island, and New Mexico. It also offers some more original experiences, such as a visit to Rose Island Lighthouse, a flight over Alaska, a getaway to the vineyards of Valle de Guadalupe in Mexico, a stay in South Beach in Miami, or a discovery of Minnesota’s wide-open spaces.
Historical Heritage, Unconventional Experiences, and Nature…
Next, Europe takes the spotlight, with Veneto (Venice, the Dolomites…), the German city of Dessau, the Swedish Riviera around Skanör-Falsterbo, Croatia with Šibenik, and Spain with León among the current favorites. Lonely Planet also suggests following the famous Napoleon Route in France, sailing between the Aeolian Islands off Sicily, walking the Saint Cuthbert’s Way to Lindisfarne, exploring Greece’s underwater landscapes, or admiring Killary Fjord in Ireland.
In the Caribbean, Central America, and South America, the selection includes Montserrat, the Bariloche lake region in Argentina, the colonial city of Granada in Nicaragua, as well as Bocas del Toro in Panama. Among the suggested experiences are an expedition cruise to the Galápagos, a tango introduction in Buenos Aires, a swim in the icy waters of Antarctica, or a stroll through Monteverde’s Cloud Forest in Costa Rica.
In Africa and the Middle East, the spotlight shines on Oman, the Moroccan capital Rabat, as well as Kenya’s Tsavo East and Tsavo West National Parks. Museums in Abu Dhabi are recommended, as is a safari at Gombe in Tanzania, made famous by Jane Goodall’s chimpanzee research, or a journey to the São Tomé and Príncipe archipelago.
Okinawa, Chengdu, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway…
Then comes Oceania, featuring Dunedin and the Waitaki region in New Zealand, Tweed in Australia, and New Caledonia, not to mention artistic experiences in Australia’s Red Centre, an immersion into the Samoan Fa’a Samoa culture, or nautical adventures in French Polynesia.
Finally, Asia completes this selection with Okinawa in Japan, Chengdu in China, Gujarat in India, Da Nang in Vietnam, and Fulidhoo Island in the Maldives. Travelers can opt for a boat excursion to orangutan territories in Malaysia, a ride aboard the legendary Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in India, a hike along the Michinoku Coastal Trail in Japan, a culinary journey in Taiwan, or a look at Astana’s distinctive architecture in Kazakhstan. Ideas for years to come!
