Often overlooked in favour of
Mexico and
Costa Rica, beautiful
Belize boasts dense jungle – where wild cats including jaguars
and ocelots prowl among Mayan ruins – to the west and a Caribbean
shoreline circled by the Belize Barrier Reef to the east. Needless
to say, the diving is exceptional.

Following the World Nomad Games in 2018, news of this Silk Road
country’s fabled beauty – snow-capped mountains and rolling summer
pastures inhabited by yurt-dwelling shepherds with eagles swooping
overhead – is fast seeping beyond the realm of in-the-know
travellers. With thousands of kilometres of treks, plenty of
homestays and the thrill of a real adventure, this is one to book
pronto.

Stretching nearly 4,300km from top to toe, unsurprisingly
Chile
is a land of extremes, boasting diverse landscapes and abundant
wildlife. Beyond the capital, vibrant cities such as
Valparaiso offer colourful cliff-side houses and quirky charm,
while the Atacama Desert is for salt plains and stargazing.

Mountains, lakes, salt flats and volcanoes provide the backdrop
for ancient cultures (including nine World Heritage listed sites),
temples, castles and monasteries in a country with the
second-fastest growing economy in Africa (after Ghana).
With thriving cities and a youthful population, this is one for
intrepid holidaymakers who like to be ahead of the curve.

Arabic conservatism meets a relatively liberal air in the
Jordanian capital of
Amman, which has become increasingly buzzy in recent years
attracting both foodies and a fashion crowd, while a visit to
ancient Petra
is one of those travel experiences that will stay with you forever.
The only coastal city in
Jordan, Aqaba is a triple threat for sea, sun and sand; head to
nearby Wadi Rum for desert camps and Bedouin culture.

We travelled to Madagascar for our recent Pioneer
issue and discovered a beautifully raw island-nation that has
yet to be sullied by tourism. With waters akin to the
Maldives, endless white coastlines – absent of hotel chains –
and return flights from the UK from £350, it’s one of our favourite
places right now.

In the last 500 years, these minute
Atlantic islands have been: one of the main centres for the
organised slave trade; the largest producers of cocoa in the world
under Portuguese colonisers; and world leaders in sugarcane
production. Today? They are among Africa’s most stable and
democratic spots, as well as one of the continent’s best-kept
secrets.

Golden-hued Valletta was named Capital of Culture 2018, but
we’ve had an eye on this Mediterranean island-nation for several
years now. Successfully throwing off its reputation as a slightly
grotty package holiday spot for the blue-haired brigade, head here
for boutique hotels, aquamarine waters and good food – at a
fraction of the price of your usual summer getaway.

We cycled through the pretty Saxon villages that dot the

Transylvaniancountryside for our Slow
issue and discovered a fairy-tale land of restored aristocratic
manor houses and wildflower-filled pastures, only improved by
top-notch organic cuisine and superb local wine.

Istanbul might a favourite for sprawling souks and mosques, but
Turkey’s third-largest city, Izmir,
is an experience that is slightly more feasible to take on for a
weekend break. Bordered by the Aegean Sea, a vibrant beachside
promenade and lively nightlife contrast to the Ancient Greek
monuments scattered around this storied city.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site and European Capital of Culture for
2019, this strange city in southern Italy is famous for its sassi –
ancient dwellings carved into calcified ravine rock, thought to be
among the first human settlements in Italy. The habitations are
becoming a tourist attraction, with boutique hotels being built in
caverns. Combine with a trip to Puglia
(an hour away) for Italian summer dreams come true.

Mumbai may have been the name on everyone’s lips last year
thanks to Soho
House opening, but this year we’ve got our sites set on
Chennai. Formerly known as Madras, this port city is the food
capital of Tamil Nadu, where South Indian artistic and religious
traditions are layered with contemporary cosmopolitan cool.

It might be Serbia’s “second” city, but this culture hotspot
wears its badge with pride – and rightly so, considering its lively
music, film, theatre and art scenes. The country’s “New Garden” has
also got a makeover which has seen the Petrovaradin Citadel’s Lower
Town redone, while Chinatown has blossomed into an edgy and
eclectic enclave.

Minsk makes for an affordable weekend break that many overlook
in favour of Prague or Budapest.
A young, creative population has given rise to eclectic art and
nightlife scenes that spring up in a cityscape of 19th-century and

Soviet architecture.

Nature is very much in charge in this dramatic archipelago of
nine volcanic islets adrift in the Atlantic about 1500km off the
coast of Lisbon.
Hiking, whale-watching, crystalline lagoons and ancient vineyards
await – Flores, Faial and Pico are our favourite islands.

Once most famous for sports teams and a distinctive accent, Andy
Warhol’s hometown is making waves thanks to a industrious young
population who are continuing his legacy via a cutting-edge art
scene. Joined by interesting restaurants and a thriving tech stage,
despite developments this American city stays true to itself,
making for a local – and genuine – experience.

This mountainous area of Thessaly is bookended by the Aegean and
the Pagasetic, offering hiking trails, untouched lagoons and
secluded beaches. Venture inland from the seaside towns for
whitewashed houses clinging to the emerald-green flanks of Pelion
Mountain and lush pine forests enclosing waterfalls. A direct
flight to Volos launched in 2018, meaning
Pelion won’t be under-the-radar for long.

Western Australians
have known that their capital is a little-discovered gem for years.
Already worth a stop-over for endless beaches (there are 19 in easy
reach) and a relaxed atmosphere, in recent years
Perth has developed a buzzing art, culture and festival scene,
complemented by a roster of innovative restaurants and quirky bars
that seem to double in number with every visit.

We told you last summer and we’ll tell you again; it’s all about

Turkey. The country may have gone off the boil somewhat in
recent years due to security threats, but licked by both Aegean and
Mediterranean waters (the southern riviera is known as the
“Turquoise Coast”) it’s winning our European summer vote this year.
Boutique hotels are being joined by five-star resorts, and even
package-holiday
Bodrum is going boujis.

The “hip” set are moving ever further eastwards in pursuit of
“the new Berlin” and
Tallinn is coming out trumps for the accolade. The capital of
Estonia is the country’s cultural hub, blending medieval history of
burnt sienna-coloured rooftops, intricate gothic churches and
winding cobblestone streets with a contemporary edge in the form of
skyscrapers and warehouses just waiting to be turning into pop-up
rave caves.

Twenty miles from Barcelona,
this former fishing village is all winding streets and vanilla
beaches coupled with a cosmopolitan air (in part thanks to an
effervescent gay scene) that has earned it the moniker the
“St
Tropez of Spain”. Popular among wealthy Catalans, it’s not all
glitz and glam, however; artists and writers follow in the
footsteps of Picasso, flocking here for inspiration and giving the
city a distinctly bohemian edge.